HAMPSHIRE civic chiefs have expressed their dismay over plans to build a £3 billion cross-Solent tunnel between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 

Able Connections Ltd, the group behind the project delivered a 15-minute presentation at a PUSH (Partnership for Urban South Hampshire) meeting n order to establish support for a viability study to be carried out. 

The partnership brings together council leaders and chief executives together to discuss ideas to help deliver sustainable, economic-led growth and regeneration to Hampshire. 

This was followed by a question and answer session. 

The plans will consist of two long dual carriageway tunnels built underneath parts of Fareham and Gosport.

The dual tunnels would run from Whippingham on the island to a portal near Lee-on-the-Solent and then to a portal 900 metres from the M27 where the journey will be completed with a new junction.

Councillor Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council said: “It’s such an expensive project, how the money is going to be raised has still not been made clear.

“If this is to be funded, it should be funded by the private sector initiative in the same way as the M6 toll road.”

Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said: “It’s a very expensive project with surprisingly high fares and uncertain funding.

“They will be addressing Fareham borough councillors today with a particular focus on funding.”

Councillor Stephen Philpott, chairman of the Gosport Borough Council's Economic Board added: “I am yet to see any persuasive evidence to suggest that this proposal would be of any benefit whatsoever to the residents of Gosport and also to Central Southern Hampshire.

“I will be seeking the advice of the chief executive of the council to see whether we want to undertake any further investigations.”

However, Carl Feeney, a director of Able Connections Limited, said: “Our remit for the presentation was that we had 15 minutes to deliver the presentation and 15 minute for questions and answers which quite clearly is not enough time to explain the details.

“The complete project will generate an estimated revenue of £200 million per year. 

"We will be providing transport that doesn’t take an hour and a half each way per ferry crossing. 

"We will be a providing a crossing time of 8 minutes which will be available any time of the day, any day of the year. 

 “You would be able to fund the construction of a Stubbington bypass (£35 million) five times each year with the toll revenue which gives an indication of the viability of this project.”