ACT South Wiltshire: Outline Statement of Case
The Association of
Council Taxpayers
South Wiltshire
THE A303 RE-ALIGNMENT PLAN FOR STONEHENGE
PUBLIC INQUIRY
OUTLINE STATEMENT
7 November 2003.
OUTLINE STATEMENT
This Outline Statement refers to an Objection to the Highways Agency
A303 Improvement Plan and its associated draft Orders published
under the Highways Act 1980, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and the Road
Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended by the New Roads and Street Works
Act 1991). With the Objection an alternative plan known as the A303
Re-alignment Plan for Stonehenge is presented.
BACKGROUND Paragraph 5
Traffic Density and Flows Paragraph 10 to 15
THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION Paragraph 17 to 22
SUMMARY Paragraph 23 to 28
CONCLUSION Paragraph 29
INTRODUCTION
1. Following the Highways Agency proposal to introduce improvements to the Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS), by proposing a tunnel. The Association of Council Taxpayers South Wiltshire will present a full alternative scheme that will fully meet the objective of English Heritage which is "to secure and fully preserve the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge. The reunification of Stonehenge with its ancient chalk downland landscape restoring its dignity and sense of isolation set amongst 450 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and protecting the archaeology forevermore, is the ultimate and most important environmental objective of English Heritage.
2. To meet this objective numerous alternative plans were produced for a Stonehenge bypass, but all were unacceptable because of damage to the environment or
archaeology. It was originally concluded that the only method of removing the A303 roadway from Stonehenge was to place it in a tunnel. The tunnel then envisaged was a Cut and Cover, now replaced by a 2.1 km bored tunnel, however even this option would need a "Cut and Cover� section across Stonehenge Bottom due to the shallow depth of the tunnel and resultant water problems. The Halcro Report further stated that, "five scheduled monuments and another eleven sites fall partly or fully within the assessment area and could be affected by the tunnel". Moreover, whilst damage to or destruction of these sites fails to meet the English Heritage objective, even the latest plans for a short bore tunnel will certainly have a serious damaging effect at the portal approaches with the removal of a considerable amount of soil. The Cut and Cover section in Stonehenge Bottom could destroy important archaeological remains.
3. A Report on Stonehenge by the Council for British Archaeology highlights
the
problems of 20th century construction at the WHS. For example,
it records that:
- The A303 Re-alignment Plan offers a new option that will "secure and fully preserve the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge� thus handing on to future generations the whole site without further archaeological damage and disturbance by traffic. Furthermore, should the plan be accepted as the "Government Preferred Route� for protection of the WHS, the plan offers the solving of other serious traffic problems in the surrounding area of the Stones located in South Wiltshire at a price well below the £193 million already earmarked for the 2.1 km Tunnel.
5. In seeking a solution for the protection of the WHS from the problem
of roads, careful consideration was taken to examine the wider area to
ensure that a solution would provide the "best and economically positive
value� for Stonehenge and the surrounding road infrastructure of the area
of the District of Salisbury where the WHS is located.
The District System
6. For many years efforts have been made to provide a bypass to remove heavy traffic from the ancient city of Salisbury. North and South bypass routes for the city have been examined but the chosen southern route was cancelled by the new Government in 1997. Subsequently environmental and flooding difficulties made the southern route unacceptable for any further consideration, leaving a northern bypass as the only real option for the future.
7. The other two main areas of heavy traffic concern are the Wylye and Bourne valleys. Both suffer from high traffic accidents rates and again for many years efforts have been made to provide bypasses. At present Wiltshire County Council is drawing up plans for a Wylye Valley bypass and are still seeking Government funding of £32 million for its construction.
- As regards the Bourne valley, through which runs the A338, some improvements have been implemented to the north of the A303 but no solution has been forthcoming for the southern section of the District.
- The overall situation is that whilst the WHS remains the focal point for the A303 Re-alignment Plan for Stonehenge plan, the surrounding major road system forms an essential part of the need to provide a cost effective road network that meets the full, long-term requirements of the area with the WHS at its heart.
10. There is no doubt whatsoever, that current traffic density and flows are beyond the capacity of Salisbury District�s road system. This problem is not new and steps have been taken over many years to seek a solution. However, as mentioned earlier options such as a Salisbury bypass, have not come to fruition and the problems remain. No more so is this apparent, than the A303 crossing the WHS
11. The document that provides the comprehensive information for understanding the traffic density and flows on the A303 and surrounding roads is to be found in the A303 Stonehenge Report of Traffic Surveys, October 2000, produced by Count On Us Ltd for Mott MacDonald (MM). This document contains vitally important data that reveals the underlying problem of traffic across the WHS.
12. Traffic information was gathered on Tuesday 27 June, Thursday 17 August and Saturday 19 August 2000. An average of 20,726 moving on the A303, (this figure includes a peak day of 24,434 on 19 August) is recorded.
13. At the A344/A303 junction at Stonehenge Bottom an average on the same 3 days of the survey shows 23,846 vehicles.
14. However, only some 36 months later the averages given by the Highways Agency for the same areas shows traffic flows between 22,000 and 33,000 vehicles. If the Highways Agency figures are correct the traffic at Longbarrow Crossroads has increased by 59% and at the A344/A303 junction by 38%. These figures appear to be far above expected growth for the period. An explanation will be called for at the Public Inquiry to establish validity. If a more recent survey has been completed , full details should be published.
15. To summarise, whilst the traffic density is high, the flow is made
much worse at the points where the data was recorded because the traffic
on this stretch moves from a dual carriageway to a single roadway. The
Public Inquiry will need to establish whether the Highways Agency traffic
data is completely reliable. Nevertheless, the flow rates certainly justify
the replacement of the single roadway with a dual carriageway. The area
in question is prone to a high accident rate and for that reason alone
needs to be improved.
THE PUBLISHED SCHEME (2.1 KM TUNNEL)
16. The 2.1 Tunnel option fails to meet the English Heritage objectives in five main areas as follows:
- While the 2.1 tunnel proposal indicates tunnel entrances beyond the rim of the "Stonehenge bowl�, it would still leave traffic visable within the WHS. If that were to be so, it would detract from the potential gain of a large archaeological park, with environmental, cultural and leisure implications.
- There would be serious and permanent damage to the archaeology within the WHS.
- A surface dual carriageway linking the tunnel with the WHS boundaries would destroy the English Heritage objective by dividing a large part of the western side into two separate unconnected areas. There would still be noise and pollution from the traffic moving to and from the tunnel entrances.
- The indications are that there would be a permanent scar on the ground at Stonehenge Bottom visible during the frequent hot, dry summer periods.
17. The A303 Re-alignment plan is a straightforward plan that maximises use of the already examined and initially evaluated Salisbury northern bypass. This new route is linked to the A303 east of Amesbury with a road of some six miles in length across arable land. This link effectively provides a complete bypass for the WHS and would mean that the English Heritage objectives would be met in full.
18. The implementation would at the same time allow the completion of an eastern road link for Salisbury, thus ensuring that the new A303 road line serves to complete the Salisbury A36 bypass. It would offer considerable cost saving for the Government road budget. This also applies to the western end of the new A303. Here it would provide the long awaited Wylye Valley relief road and again produce a cost saving of some £32 million that is at present being sought from the Government roads budget by WCC.
19. The position of the new A303 running north/south to the west of the A338 would provide a bypass so badly needed for a heavily used road where serious accidents are prevalent.
20. In all, the A303 Re-alignment would effectively solve five major road schemes, at a cost well below the 2.1km tunnel option. Whilst the focus remains on solving the traffic problems at the WHS, the implementation of this plan also solves important problems such as completion of the Bristol � Bath � Warminster A36 highway to Southampton, through Salisbury at the same time.
21. For most of the period the major part of the A303 Re-alignment and the Salisbury eastern bypass could be constructed without the need to touch existing roads within the District and this would mean that there would be minimum disturbance to existing roads. That would be of particular importance to the current A303 passing across the WHS which would continue to run until the new route was complete, whereas the official scheme would almost certainly involve a long period of traffic disruption during construction.
22. Air Quality. The A303 Re-alignment plan offers major advantages
in the reduction of air pollution. There are major problems along the A36
as it passes through the western side of Salisbury into the town of Wilton.
To meet the requirements of the Environment Act 1995 Part IV section 84(1),
the very heavy flow of vehicles using the A36 must be reduced. The Stonehenge
A303 re-alignment plan would do just that. Moreover, there are also serious
concerns for the area around Countess Roundabout in Amesbury where the
growing flow of vehicles moving on the A303 and the increased number of
vehicles expected to use the roundabout to enter and leave the new Visitor
Centre may well produce levels of pollution above that acceptable under
the Environment Act 1995.
SUMMARY
23. The A303 Re-alignment is an "exceptional environmental scheme� which will ensure that the WHS is fully preserved without risking damage to the archaeology for future generations. It would provide a National Park without roads at its heart and meet all the requirements of English Heritage and its objectives. It provides the very best possible background for the implementation of the Management Plan.
24. Unlike the 2.1km tunnel it would provide a quiet and tranquil setting for the Nations archaeological jewel. Whilst the tunnel option may remove visible traffic from the immediate area of the Stones, it will not remove traffic fumes, noise and headlight pollution in the WHS: the A303 Re-alignment plan will however, achieve complete removal.
25. Winterbourne Stoke will still have its bypass that will be located south of the village thereby avoiding archaeological damage that will occur if it is located on the north side as part of the tunnel plan. The A303 Re-alignment plan further reduces traffic through the village by limiting access only from the Longbarrow junction.
26. The A303 Re-alignment plan offers incomparable advantages over the official scheme in that, for a very significant reduction in total cost, it will provide:
- The medieval city of Salisbury with the bypass long recognised as being necessary and its inevitable construction in the not too distant future at greatly increased cost.
- Relief for the Wylye Valley villages eliminating the need for the separately planned and funded relief road with a currently forecast cost in excess of £30 million.
- Relief for the many Bourne Valley villages on the County north/south feeder A338 road that is an acknowledged requirement but beyond local highways authority resources.
- Removal of trunk road traffic from Amesbury and the elimination of the requirement to designate a link road through the densely populated area of Butterfield Down.
28. There will be an increase of local traffic on the northern side
of the WHS along the road known as the Packway. This increase is inevitable
due to the closure of the A344 that was used by local people who drive
to Amesbury. However, the Packway is a good road and with the implementation
of certain recommended safety features in the area where the military camps
are located the road should have no difficulty accepting the increase in
local traffic.
CONCLUSION
29. Whilst the official 2.1 km Tunnel scheme is said to be a unique "exceptional environmental scheme", the A303 Re-alignment scheme is also "a unique exceptional environmental scheme of much higher value�. Amongst its many advantages the Stonehenge A303 Re-alignment Plan for Stonehenge will:
- Focus on and solve the environmental problems at the WHS, furthermore, it will fully meet the English Heritage objectives and leave the archaeology untouched for future generations.
- Provide substantial cost savings over the official scheme and identify possible cost savings for future local road projects.