Dorset CPRE strongly supports this petition against the proposal for a very damaging short tunnel at Stonehenge, and we encourage our members to sign it, in order to stop this wilful act of cultural vandalism. The Stonehenge Alliance invites members of Dorset CPRE to sign a petition against the proposal for a short tunnel so that a better alternative can be sought. You may also wish to donate to funding for potential legal action against the Secretary of State's damaging decision.
Individual supporters of the Stonehenge Alliance, of which CPRE is a founding member, have formed Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site Ltd to challenge the Transport Secretary’s decision to proceed with the tunnel scheme. A six month Examination was held in 2019, where arguments were heard for and against the tunnel proposal. Following this, the five Planning Inspectors recommended in strong terms that the scheme should not be approved. They considered there would be permanent and irreversible harm to the landscape and a significantly adverse effect on the World Heritage Site. However, Secretary of State Grant Shapps still ruled that the short tunnel project should go ahead.
CPRE argue that there may be better ways to take the A303 away from the Stonehenge landscape and solve congestion, especially at this time of climate emergency.
The Solution
- A longer tunnel. The current proposal is for a tunnel only 3km long, but the complete Stonehenge World Heritage Site landscape is 5.4km across. Huge motorway size cuttings would gouge into the prehistoric landscape at either end. A longer tunnel could take the road right under the entire site. It has been rejected on cost grounds, but there is only one Stonehenge. What's it worth?
Other options have not been fully explored. A tunnel solution was the only proposal offered in public consultations. Major changes in travel are likely within the next few years as the country comes to terms with its climate change commitments.
What's wrong with the short tunnel?
Imagine Stonehenge close to a motorway. Would it be the same? The massive motorway scale cuttings at either end of the tunnel, less than a mile from Stonehenge itself, would dwarf and belittle the stones themselves.
Stonehenge is not just the stones. Stonehenge is only complete in its landscape setting. This is our very earliest history. Walk in the Stonehenge landscape and there all around you are the barrows, earth monuments and settlement remains of the people who built Stonehenge and their predecessors. We are the custodians of this wonderful extensive ancient landscape, described by UNESCO as "a landscape without parallel".
A longer tunnel or an alternative option would achieve what everyone wants.
Help make the case to find a better way!
