A303 Consultation: Key points
We urge everyone to participate in the public consultation about the proposed changes to the A303 at Stonehenge. To help inform your response we have written a series of three reactions with some links below.
Our key concerns are:
- Consultation period is too short for a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- No options offered to protect the World Heritage Site
- Tunnel too short (WHS is 5.4km/3.4miles wide, tunnel is 2.9km/1.8 miles long).
- Serious damage to archaeology and landscape in direct contravention of planning policy and World Heritage Convention.
- Detrimental to wildlife especially the RSPB reserve for Stone Curlews.
- £1.4bn expenditure won’t solve traffic problems.
Consultation
Just 7 weeks to have your say on the short tunnel This is the only option being offered across the World Heritage Site. There are two options to bypass the adjacent village of Winterbourne Stoke. However this can hardly be considered a consultation on options. Read more…
Archaeology and ecology
A303 tunnel impacts on archaeology and ecology The plans for the A303 are of particular concern for the damage they would do to archaeology, wildlife and the WHS landscape. Read more…
Transport and planning
A303 Short tunnel: Transport and planning considerations The A303 widening is a road scheme that fails to respect the special requirements of a WHS. Read more…
What can you do to help?
1. Please respond to the A303 Stonehenge consultation here by 5 March 2017. For further information, maps and documentation see Highways England’s consultation page here.
2. If you haven’t already done so, please, sign our petition and encourage your friends to do the same.
KINDLY NOTE: Since setting up the petition, we have learned more about the recently discovered Mesolithic site at Blick Mead. This has led us to consider that if Government insists on a tunnel under the WHS, it must be long enough to avoid the WHS and its setting altogether. This would be in line with planning policy and World Heritage Convention safeguards. We cannot change the wording but our intention to avoid further damage is clearly stated in the petition.
- Please write to UNESCO and, if possible, to the National Trust as well, expressing your concerns. Editing your responses in your own words will be more effective.
