In a period of climate turmoil and economic transition, the future for car based transport is limited.  Road transport is a key target for change by national government.  The Department for Transport will be looking for excellent examples to develop. 

Stonehenge could be a world leader in best practice in long term, low carbon and demand management solutions for World Heritage Sites and other protected landscapes.  

We do not put ourselves forward as advocates of any specific intervention, although we do advocate sustainable transport measures that would be more fitting for the 21st century than gouging a concrete trench and tunnel through a prehistoric “landscape without parallel”.  

We list below examples of local measures that would cost a fraction of the budget saved from cancelling the Stonehenge road scheme:

• Lay ultra-quiet surfacing to reduce intrusive road noise.
• Instal traffic management measures in the local villages to deter through traffic, restrict speeds to improve safety for local residents.
• Reclaim an inclusive solution for car free public access and enhanced enjoyment of the monument on foot, by bicycle and local bus.  Of immediate priority to be addressed are pedestrian and cycle routes from Amesbury as well as increased frequency of bus services.  A further action should be reviewing the use of the agricultural underpass adjacent to Vespasian’s Camp for cyclists and walkers from Salisbury. 
• Invest in rail improvements to access the south west along the lines proposed by Peninsula Transport and others, and promote green tourism packages.
• For regional sustainable transport recommendations, see Connecting South West England: In place of A303/A358 widening
• Consider potential solutions to ‘rubber necking’ near Stonehenge Bottom e.g. trialling variable speed limits between the two Longbarrow and Countess roundabouts at peak times, or by trialling a visual barrier which avoids impacting on the archaeology and landscape e.g. camouflage fabric screen.
• Innovative methods to discourage peak tourist travel times which could generate green travel funds for connecting shuttle buses by, for instance:
  • Increasing car park charges for all Stonehenge visitors (currently £4 for non-English Heritage/National Trust members, members enjoy free entry) at peak times to generate income directed towards green travel funds (e.g. shuttle buses to Amesbury);
  • If Government introduces a road charging scheme, Wiltshire could propose Stonehenge as a site for piloting peak time road user charging;
  • Monitor the traffic impact arising from the UK government’s new pay-per-mile road tax for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles set to take effect in April 2028.

 

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