Stonehenge road tunnel

The Stonehenge road tunnel is a planned tunnel in Wiltshire, England, drawn up by Highways England to upgrade the A303 road. It would move the A303 into a tunnel under the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, completing the removal of traffic begun with the closure of the A344 road.[1][2] The wider project was designed to improve the landscape around the monument and to improve safety on the A303,[3] and was part of proposals to change the site in other ways including moving the visitors centre. The project is expected to cost £1.7 billion.[4]

Traffic on the A303 road passing by Stonehenge

Context
The A303 road passing by Stonehenge

The A303 primary route is one of the main routes from London to the South West of England. Sections have been upgraded to dual carriageway status, though one third of the road remains single carriageway. Traffic flows on the A303 between Amesbury and Winterbourne Stoke (the section including Stonehenge) are above the capacity of the road[5] and the Highways Agency expressed concern about safety on this road and the A344.

The two roads passed close to Stonehenge and land owned by the National Trust[6] with the A303 passing directly south and the A344 directly to the north, with a pedestrian tunnel passing from the Stonehenge visitor centre to the site underneath this road. As part of the development of the proposals, over 50 routes were considered by the Highways Agency.[7]

Since 1991, 51 proposals have been considered for improving the A303 in the area and to remove it from the Stonehenge site.[8]

Proposal

As of November 2020, the approved planning application comprises:[9]

  • A bypass taking the A303 north of the village of Winterbourne Stoke, with a viaduct over the Till valley
  • A new junction between the A303 and the A360 Devizes-Salisbury road, west of the existing junction and outside the Stonehenge World Heritage Site
  • A tunnel taking the A303 past Stonehenge, about 3.3 km (2.1 mi) long
  • Improvements to the junction between the A303 and A345 near Amesbury.

History

1995 proposal

In 1995 it was proposed to build a tunnel for the A303 underneath the World Heritage Site. A conference agreed on a 2.5-mile (4 km) bored tunnel; however, the government instead proposed a cut and cover tunnel, with plans being published in 1999. These plans were criticised by the National Trust, Transport 2000 and others who expressed concern that it would cause damage to archaeological remains along the route, destroy ancient sites and not achieve an improvement in the landscape.[10][11]

In 2002, new plans for a bored tunnel of 1.3 miles (2.1 km) were announced by the Secretary of State for Transport as part of a 7.7-mile (12.5 km) plan to upgrade the A303 to dual carriageway status, with the tunnel estimated to cost £183 million.[12] This proposal brought further protests from the National Trust, English Heritage, UNESCO, CPRE, the Council for British Archaeology[13] and local groups as the tunnel approach cutting would cut in two a prehistoric track way between Stonehenge and a nearby river. These groups are calling for a tunnel at least 2.9 km long, which would, while being sited within the world heritage site, clear most of the known major artefacts, claiming that if the government goes ahead with the 2.1 km tunnel there may never be another chance to remove the road from the site completely.[14]

In 2004 a public enquiry[15] required under the Highways Act 1980 was conducted by a planning inspector, Michael Ellison. His enquiry agreed that the government proposals were adequate.[6] The report stated:

The physical loss of archaeological remains, the changes to the land form in these sections, and the scale of the new highway would adversely affect the authenticity of the site and more than offset the benefits of the proposed tunnel in the central area. The published scheme would represent the largest earthwork ever constructed within the World Heritage Site; a feature that would contribute nothing to the authenticity.

but concluded:

...after taking into account the requirements of local and national planning, including the requirements of agriculture, that it is expedient for the purpose of improving the A303 between points A and B on the plan referred to in the Line Order for a trunk road to be provided along the route shown in the Line Order

On 20 July 2005 the tunnel scheme was withdrawn by the Government, partly due to rising costs of construction, which had doubled to £470 million.[16] The Highways Agency continued to list the project as planned, but gave 2008 as the earliest date for the start of construction.[3]

2005 proposal

On 31 October 2005 a Government steering group was set up to look at possible solutions,[17] with the aim of choosing an "option in keeping with the special requirements of the location that is affordable, realistic and deliverable." The review presented five options – the published tunnel scheme, a cut and cover tunnel, a 'partial solution' (involving a roundabout but maintaining the current road), and two overland bypass routes.[18][19] Some of these plans have been criticised as being damaging to both archaeology and biodiversity, including the stone curlew, barn owls, bats, and the chalk grassland habitat.[20] Five options were considered including diverting the A303 further away and only closing the A344. The group expected to produce a report in 2006, taking into account the results of public consultation which started on 23 January 2006 and ran until 24 April 2006.[3]

On 6 December 2007, Roads Minister Tom Harris announced that the whole scheme had been cancelled due to increased costs of £540 million. English Heritage expressed disappointment whilst the group Save Stonehenge (now Stonehenge Alliance) were pleased with the outcome. The Highways Agency stated that they would continue to work on small scale improvements to the A303.[21]

A344 closure

A revised proposal, of closing the A344 road between Stonehenge Bottom and Byway 12, and closing part of the B3086 was put forward in 2010. This also included a proposed new roundabout to replace the current Airman's Corner junction and improvements to the Longbarrow Roundabout on the A303.[22][23]

A planning inquiry to consider the proposal was started in June 2011.[24] In July 2012 work began on the £27 million project which involved the closure and grassing over of part of the A344 and the closing of the underpass beneath the road at the monument entrance.[25]

In December 2013 the new visitors' centre at Airman's Corner on the A360 was opened. Shuttle buses take visitors to the monument along the old A344 road, a distance of approximately 2.4 km.

2013 proposal

According to documentation released in response to a Freedom of Information request, in January 2012 local councils and the South West Local Enterprise Partnership met to discuss their proposals for "a consortium of Local Authorities to develop and take forward a new scheme for improvements to the A303/ A358/A30" and to "develop an effective lobbying framework so that we can take a planned approach to raising our profile both nationally, regionally and locally".[26] In September 2012 a survey conducted by Somerset County Council found that more than 90% of commuters and businesses in the South West back an upgrade of the A303.[27] In April 2013 it was reported that the chancellor was giving consideration to "...adding lanes to the A303 – known all too well to holidaymakers – which runs from Basingstoke through Wiltshire (past Stonehenge) and Somerset to the South West of England..."[28]

2017 go-ahead

The proposal was given an initial go-ahead by the government on 12 January 2017. The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, said that "it will transform the A303, cutting congestion and improving journey times". Chairman of Amesbury Museum and Heritage Trust, Andy Rhind-Tutt, described the tunnel plan as a "self-destructing time bomb" which would "do nothing" for traffic problems in the area. The Stonehenge Alliance campaign group repeated their belief that "any tunnel shorter than 2.7 miles would cause irreparable damage to the landscape".[29][30] The group also responded with a statement:[31]

We object strongly to the short tunnel scheme and address archaeological, natural environment, landscape and transport considerations. We highlight the incompatibility of the short tunnel project with Government’s commitment to the World Heritage Convention, its own planning guidance and policies, and the widely agreed World Heritage Site Management Plan 2015. We note a number of statements in the Technical Appraisal Report that indicate the scheme cannot be considered ‘value for money’.

Highways England held consultations on the scheme in 2018. A cost of £1.6 billion and a planned start date in 2021 were indicated.[32] English Heritage, the National Trust and Historic England are quoted as supporting the concept of the tunnel with some concerns about the linking of byways, whilst the Stonehenge Alliance and Friends of the Earth remain opposed,[33] as are the Campaign for Better Transport.[34] In July 2019, Unesco renewed its condemnation of the proposal and urged the government to not approve the scheme.[35]

2020 approval

In 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak greenlighted the tunnel project, although this was delayed due to archaeological discoveries at Durrington Walls. The Stonehenge Alliance asserted that this will cause irreparable damage in breach of the World Heritage Convention.[36]

On 12 November 2020, the Secretary of State Grant Shapps granted a Development Consent Order for the project, overruling the recommendation of planning inspectors, and despite widespread opposition and petitions.[37][38] Campaigners have since launched a legal challenge.[39]

Environmental concerns

Both tunnel portals will lie within the heritage site, and campaigners are concerned that artefacts will be lost during construction.[4] In 2017, a report from UNESCO stated that the tunnel could have an adverse impact on the site, and in 2019 it condemned the project.[40][41]

Protest

A "mass trespass" in opposition to the plans was held 5 December 2020 by an alliance of local people and groups, climate activists, and archaeologists.[42] [43]

References
  1. "Reasons for Review". Highways Agency. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  2. Hicks, Dan (24 February 2017). "Why are England's heritage bodies supporting the Stonehenge Bypass?". Apollo.
  3. "A303 Stonehenge". Highways Agency. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  4. Topham, Gwyn; Morris, Steven (12 November 2020). "Stonehenge road tunnel given go-ahead despite backlash". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. "A303 Stonehenge (incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke Bypass) Preferred Route Announcement June 1999 – Why a road improvement is proposed". Highways Agency. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  6. "Report to the First Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Transport". 31 January 2005. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  7. "A303 Stonehenge (incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke Bypass) Preferred Route Announcement June 1999 – Choice of route". Highways Agency. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  8. Professor Alec Boksenberg CBE FRS (19 April 2006). "A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme Review: public consultation — Response by the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO" (PDF). UNESCO Committee for United Kingdom. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
  9. "Planning decision letter on behalf of the Secretary of State" (PDF). Planning Inspectorate. Department for Transport. 12 November 2020.
  10. "Stonehenge road plans 'may damage site'". BBC News. 18 October 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  11. "Trust attacks Stonehenge tunnel". BBC News. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  12. "Stonehenge tunnel approved". BBC News. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  13. "Proof of Evidence of George Lambrick MA FSA MIFA" (DOC). Council for British Archaeology. January 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  14. "Maximising benefits – A more sustainable tunnel solution at Stonehenge" (Press release). The National Trust. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
  15. "Stonehenge tunnel inquiry opens". BBC News. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  16. "Stonehenge tunnel plan cash blow". BBC News. 20 July 2005. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  17. "Way Forward Announced For A303 Stonehenge Review" (Press release). Government News Network. 31 October 2005. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2007. Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport, said: "I hope this review will enable me to decide on an option in keeping with the special requirements of the location that is affordable, realistic and deliverable."
  18. "Heritage site road plans revealed". BBC News. 8 February 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  19. "A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme Review – Public Consultation" (PDF). Highways Agency. January 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  20. "Stonehenge road 'a risk to birds'". BBC News. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2007.
  21. "Stonehenge tunnel plans scrapped". BBC News. 6 December 2007. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
  22. "Public inquiry into Stonehenge road closure". Salisbury Journal. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  23. "Stonehenge Road Closure". BAJR archaeology portal. February 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  24. "Inquiry into Stonehenge A344 closure plans". BBC. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  25. "Stonehenge's £27m makeover will end its days as a traffic island". The Guardian. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  26. "Notes of a meeting to discuss opportunities to take forward a new proposal for improvements to the A303, A358 and A30" (PDF).
  27. "A303 dualling plan through South West 'supported by businesses'".
  28. "Chancellor plans second toll motorway in major road spend". The Independent. 1 April 2013.
  29. "Stonehenge tunnel plan finalised by government". BBC News. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  30. Hicks, Dan (24 January 2017). "The A303 is part of the Stonehenge setting, don't bury it". The Independent.
  31. "Stonehenge Alliance responds and calls for a re-run". Stonehenge Alliance. 3 March 2017.
  32. "A303 Stonehenge". Highways England. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  33. Steven Morris (8 February 2018). "Stonehenge tunnel: plans for £1.6bn scheme published". The Guardian.
  34. "New Stonehenge consultation fails to address UNESCO's concerns". Campaign for Better Transport. 5 July 2018.
  35. "Stonehenge: Unesco condemns tunnel plan". BBC News. 4 July 2019.
  36. "Stonehenge Tunnel Delays". The Wild Hunt. 23 July 2020.
  37. Gwyn Topham (12 November 2020). "Stonehenge road tunnel given go-ahead despite backlash". The Guardian.
  38. "A303 Stonehenge | National Infrastructure Planning". Planning Inspectorate. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  39. Owen Boycott (30 November 2020). "Campaigners launch legal challenge over Stonehenge road tunnel". The Guardian.
  40. "Stonehenge tunnel 'should be reconsidered', Unesco says". BBC News. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  41. "Stonehenge: Unesco condemns tunnel plan". BBC News. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  42. Diane Taylor (5 December 2020). "Tunnel protesters sing and drum their way into Stonehenge". The Guardian.
  43. "Stonehenge tunnel: Protest staged at monument". BBC News. 5 December 2020.

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