Protestors claim the A303 Improvement Scheme was granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) against the advice of planning inspectors who concluded it would cause permanent, irreversible harm to the World Heritage Site.
The Guardian newspaper reported that the protestors, who include Druids, archaeologists and environmental groups, are now calling for the decision to grant the DCO to be quashed, claiming that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did not properly consider the impact of the scheme on individual heritage assets. They say the proposed 3.2km tunnel will cause irreparable damage to prehistoric sites such as barrows and ancient enclosures, as well as to ancient artefacts.
Mike Parker Pearson, regarded as a leading authority on Stonehenge, said that more than 10ha of the site would be completely destroyed and will cause a scattering of artefacts from the copper- to early bronze-ages.
The tunnel forms part of the proposed A303 improvement scheme which also includes a 150m-wide ‘green’ bridge for wildlife preservation; a 1km cutting with vertical retaining walls containing the dual carriageway; and a new flyover at the junction of the A303 and A360.
UNESCO has said it would like to see a longer bored tunnel than that currently proposed and has warned that it may put Stonehenge on its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger if the tunnel is built in its current form.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We are confident the decision taken by the secretary of state to proceed with the A303 Stonehenge project was correct, lawful and well-informed.”
