Stonehenge tunnel recommendation due next week

Submitted by PaulM on Wednesday, 08 September 2004 Page Views: 843

The report on controversial plans to build a £200m tunnel near Stonehenge has gone to the secretary of state for transport, Alastair Darling reports This Is Amesbury. Planning inspector Michael Ellison has been compiling his findings since the public inquiry into the road building scheme at the world heritage site finished in May.

His completed report will contain a recommendation about whether a 2.1km tunnel should be bored through the landscape or the plans should be scrapped in favour of finding an alternative solution.

The final decision rests with the department of transport, which is expected to make an announcement in the autumn.

Work on the tunnel could begin as early as next spring if the plans get the go-ahead and will take more than three years to complete.

English Heritage and supporters of the tunnel say the road scheme is the only way to restore the integrity of the world heritage site and protect the world-famous monument.

The plans also involve creating a bypass for nearby village Winterbourne Stoke, which sees up to 33,000 vehicles a day thundering through.

Many archaeologists fear building the tunnel will cause irreversible damage to the historic landscape, while others say it is simply too expensive, and accuse the tunnel's supporters of trying to exclude the public from enjoying the monument unless they pay to see it.

The National Trust said the proposed tunnel was not long enough to protect the whole site and over four kilometres would be required, despite the £400m price tag.

Seven other groups and individuals suggested alternatives for the road, which ranged from duelling the existing stretch to diverting the A303 or building new roads to create a Salisbury bypass.

Separate proposals for the multi-million-pound Stonehenge heritage centre have now been received by planning officers at Salisbury district council.

The documents are currently being checked and details of the plans will be available after September 15.

English Heritage hopes to build the 'interactive experience' near Countess Road roundabout, with visitors reaching the stones and other monuments on land trains.

The plans have angered nearby residents, who fear increased noise and traffic chaos.

Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

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