ICOMOS-UK press release October 2002

DECISION TIME FOR STONEHENGE ROADS:

How will Ministers put a value on the inspirational Stonehenge landscape?

Shortly the Secretary of State for Transport, with advice from the Department for Culture Media and Sport, will make a decision on how to improve that part of the A303 which currently runs through the centre of the World Heritage Stonehenge landscape.

ICOMOS-UK, which is recognised by government as having special status for World Heritage Sites, is calling for that decision to be based on the widest assessment of the cultural benefits Stonehenge delivers as an iconic part of our cultural heritage, and this would, it believes, lead to a longer rather than a shorter tunnel.

Three options are being considered to improve and underground this noisy and intrusive road. These are for 2.1, 2.67 and 4.5 kilometre tunnels and cover two types of construction, cut and cover and bored. These options have been assessed by the Highways Agency following agreement in 1998 that the A303 improvement scheme would be included in the Government�s Targeted Programme of Improvements.

ICOMOS-UK believes that the cut and cover method cannot be justified as it would have a disastrous and irreversible effect on the archaeology of the Stonehenge landscape. In making a decision on which length of underground road to go for, ICOMOS-UK believes that it is essential that the option chosen should be related to the cultural heritage value of Stonehenge.

Tom Hassall, ICOMOS-UK President, says:

"It is essential, in weighing up the options, that the value of Stonehenge as a World Heritage Site, and as part of the nation�s cultural identity, is fully acknowledged. This inspirational and evocative landscape deserves to be freed of noisy traffic and made available for people to enjoy in peace and quiet.

We believe that a sustainable solution to the road issue should assess the cultural benefits Stonehenge delivers and show how these could be hugely increased if as much as possible of the road is put underground.

The decision the Government now has to make is all about putting an economic value on what we all value as part of our shared heritage. The Government�s cultural credentials will be measured by us, and by future generations, through the way it makes that decision."

Attached is a detailed ICOMOS-UK Position Statement on the roads, which spells out the various options and the way ICOMOS-UK believes that they should be assessed.

The National Trust�s Council will be debating this issue at its meeting on Thursday, 3^rd October. This Press Release is embargoed until the results of that debate are made public.