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You are here: Home > Information > Press & articles > Western Daily Press, 13 October 2001

Is this the way to save our greatest national treasure?

Western Daily Press 13/10/2001

Dr KATE FIELDEN

Archeologist and founding member of the Save Stonehenge Alliance

MARK HAROLD

Spokesman on Stonehenge for the National Trust, which owns the site


 

NO - Dr. Kate Fielden


STONEHENGE is our most famous and most visited archeological site. It is far more than just the henge, for the stones are surrounded by a remarkable landscape of hundreds of interrelated archeological sites, notably of the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age dating from around 4,000BC to around 1,500BC.

About 450 are scheduled and protected by law.Apart from visible sites there are numerous unknown sites scattered across the landscape.

Some nine square miles around Stonehenge was designated, together with Avebury and its associated archeological monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. It stands alongside places such as the Taj Mahal and the Egyptian Pyramids. There is nothing like Stonehenge.

Sorting our roads and traffic is the key to solving the problems at Stonehenge. Then there would be a chance to improve the dreadful visitor facilities. But our Government is internationally committed to protect and conserve the whole of the World Heritage Site - all nine square miles of it, not just the core which lies nearest to the stones.

The present scheme for the A303 was placed in the roads programme in 1998. The NT agrees to it in principle. The rationale appears to be Something Must Be Done.

Like all final solutions it is fundamentally flawed. The road scheme that is heralded as a solution would severely damage the heritage site itself. Perhaps it would result in a more attractive setting for the stones - but at huge cost to the archeological sites lost to tunnel building.

Some 30 to 40 acres in places close to the stones would be removed or damaged - along with all the archeological remains within it. Five scheduled monuments are involved; another 11 known sites would be affected.Countless unknown sites too.

Apart from the tunnels and tunnel portals themselves there would be 400 to 500m long cuttings at each end; permanent tunnel lighting, noisy dual carriageways, grade separated junctions - all within or affecting the setting of the world heritage site and its monuments.

Stonehenge was given to the nation in 1918. The National Trust now holds the key. The Government's cut-and-cover tunnels would be constructed on NT land, bought following public appeal in the 1920s so that further building would be prevented.

It is time for us to make a stand for Stonehenge.We must ask for the best solution, whatever the cost, or leave things alone until we can afford it.
 

YES - Mark Harold


THE National Trust is committed to returning Stonehenge to a grassland setting where the stones and other monuments can once again be appreciated without the sound, sight or smell of major roads.

The trust owns about two and a half square miles of land around Stonehenge, while the circle itself is owned by the Government and administered by English Heritage. The vision is to create an environment which recognises the importance of Stonehenge as a World Heritage Site and enables visitors to experience the site as an area of quiet enjoyment.

This is contained in the public Stonehenge Master Plan document which was agreed in 1998, and which the trust is working with English Heritage and Highways Agency to implement.

The Highways Agency is developing a road scheme for the area and, as an affected landowner, the trust will be consulted on this scheme once more detail has been completed.

The trust takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. The Government has charged the Highways Agency to deliver an "exceptional environmental road scheme", and the National Trust will be scrutinising the detail to ensure that this is delivered.

The Highways Agency has been advised of our criteria, including the environmental and planning principles, on which we will judge the detail of the scheme.

The trust supports in principle a 2km tunnel for the A303 past Stonehenge. However, the trust will not take any final decision on the acceptability of any scheme until firm plans are available.

The whole vision aims to remove any noisy roads. The detail of any tunnel has yet to be seen and considered. The trust is delighted both cut and cover and bored tunnel construction are being considered by the Highways Agency. The scheme also includes the closure of the A344, and removal of roads, fences and associated noise. .

There is a World Heritage Site management plan which seeks to protect the whole site, and the master plan is delivering these objectives. The scheme relocates the existing visitor facilities to a location outside the World Heritage Site, and will return Stonehenge to its tranquil setting.

Archaeology may be affected and decisions will be based on the latest available information and surveys. It will depend upon the detail of the construction techniques as to how much archaeology is affected. This will become clearer over the coming year.