Stonehenge Alliance press release: 20 July 2005

Last updated: 20 July 2005

Today's news that the A303 Improvement scheme could be withdrawn is very warmly welcomed by the Stonehenge Alliance, a group of archaeological and environmental organisations formed to oppose the road scheme. We are pleased that the Government has suggested a return to the drawing board in trying to solve the problem of intrusive roads at Stonehenge; and we would be glad to take part in any discussions the Government might have in mind.

With only a short bored tunnel near the Stones, the A303 road Improvement would have left around two thirds of the archaeological landscape of the World Heritage Site divided and permanently scarred by dual carriageways and deep tunnel cuttings.

The A303 Stonehenge Improvement was a key element of English Heritage's Stonehenge Project that includes proposals for a new visitor-centre close to nearby Amesbury. We trust that English Heritage will now withdraw its planning application for the visitor-centre, due to be determined by Salisbury District Council next week. Said to be dependent upon completion of the A303 scheme, this unpopular development would require some 3.5km of new roads to be built in the World Heritage Site to bus visitors closer to the Henge. If the A303 is to remain in place for the time being, then more roads in this landscape are the last thing that is needed.

Should the visitor-centre proposals not be withdrawn, the case for a Public Inquiry into their suitability for this sensitive landscape is strengthened by the decision to withdraw the A303 Improvement scheme.  

THE STONEHENGE ALLIANCE IS SUPPORTED BY:

Ancient Sacred Landscape Network; CPRE, Friends of the Earth,

RESCUE: The British Archaeological Trust, The Pagan Federation,

and Transport 2000