Future children and grandchildren
“The development permit for this destructive tunnel has been declared illegal and has now been revoked. The government will have to make a new decision before it can make a new decision.
“At the same time, one of the country’s most precious heritage assets cannot be compromised.”
A team of expert inspectors suggested that development permits should be denied because the project would substantially and permanently damage the integrity and authenticity of the site, including stone circles and the wider archaeological rich landscape.
In a report to Mr. Shaps, officials stated that permanent, irreversible damage, which is essential to the outstanding universal value of the site or why it is of international importance, will happen, “not only affects We ourselves, and affect future generations.”
archaeologist
The Stonehenge site, together with Avebury, was declared a World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value by UNESCO in 1986 due to the size of the megaliths, the complexity of the concentric circles, and the Neolithic and Bronze Age sites and The complexity of the monument.
The proposed tunnel is part of a £1.7 billion investment in the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down.
This road is a popular route for motorists to travel to and from the southwest, and is often heavily congested on the one-way street near the stone.
The English Road Agency stated that its two-mile tunnel plan would eliminate the sight and sound of vehicles passing through the site and shorten the travel time. However, due to the potential impact of the plan on the area, some environmentalists and archaeologists expressed opposition to the project. plan.
Sensitive
The project is classified as a project of national significance, which means that it needs to obtain a development permit to proceed.
A spokesperson for History England said: “We are disappointed with the results of the judicial review. This is a missed opportunity to eliminate the intrusive sight and sound of traffic passing by the iconic monument and reunify the extraordinary Stonehenge landscape for decades. , The busy A303 main road divides Stonehenge into two.
“We believe that the plan may bring a lasting positive heritage to the World Heritage Site. We recommend a strict archaeological survey plan to ensure that the impact on sensitive archaeological sites is minimized.
dig
“Stonehenge is one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in the world, and it has been of far-reaching significance to people for more than 5,000 years.
“We will continue to work with partners in the heritage department and advise the English Highway Authority on any proposals for A303.”
Professor David Jacques, an archaeologist at the University of Buckingham, who has conducted excavations in nearby Blickmead for ten years, said that the tunnel would “significantly damage” the historical value of the site.
He added: “The landscape of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site is very precious, and you will be dangerous if you tamper with it-you can’t get it back.”
This author
Sian Harrison is the legal editor of PA.
