Save Stonehenge! Message Board: October 2005-December 2007
Last updated: 7 December 2007
This is the archive of messages that have been posted to our board from autumn/fall 2005 onwards. We also have some more messages you can read.
Since the closure of the campaign, we have deleted the email addresses on this page to protect privacy.
Thursday 12/06/2007 4:24:25pm
Name: Michael
City/Country: Exeter
Comments: How many people must die before the tunnel is built?
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks for your comments. It's a very good question.
I would offer you these two replies:
1. As we pointed out at the public inquiry, according to the Environmental Statement for the tunnel (section 2.1.3.8), the accident rate for the current A303 is virtually the same as the national average (to within the third decimal place). The road is not significantly more dangerous than any comparable road. Spending half a billion pounds to make this bit of road safer might seem a very good idea, but it's half a billion pounds that could be spent on roads elsewhere that are actually more dangerous. Surely that's what should be done? There are other places that are a higher priority.
But let's say saving lives is your priority. You could save them more effectively by investing in hospitals. You could build 1-2 big new hospitals for 500 million or completely refurbish 10 old hospitals. How many lives would you save that way? Far more than you'd save by building a measley 12.4 km of road at Stonehenge.
2. The accident rate could be cut at a stroke if the government immediately closed the junction of the A344 and A303, as we've been asking them to do for years.
Of course we have to make roads as safe as we can, but I think you have to see these things in the round.
What isn't acceptable is for the government to cut money from the Stonehenge scheme and then not spend it more effectively on public transport improvements elsewhere.
Name: Michael
City/Country: Exeter
Comments: How many people must die before the tunnel is built?
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks for your comments. It's a very good question.
I would offer you these two replies:
1. As we pointed out at the public inquiry, according to the Environmental Statement for the tunnel (section 2.1.3.8), the accident rate for the current A303 is virtually the same as the national average (to within the third decimal place). The road is not significantly more dangerous than any comparable road. Spending half a billion pounds to make this bit of road safer might seem a very good idea, but it's half a billion pounds that could be spent on roads elsewhere that are actually more dangerous. Surely that's what should be done? There are other places that are a higher priority.
But let's say saving lives is your priority. You could save them more effectively by investing in hospitals. You could build 1-2 big new hospitals for 500 million or completely refurbish 10 old hospitals. How many lives would you save that way? Far more than you'd save by building a measley 12.4 km of road at Stonehenge.
2. The accident rate could be cut at a stroke if the government immediately closed the junction of the A344 and A303, as we've been asking them to do for years.
Of course we have to make roads as safe as we can, but I think you have to see these things in the round.
What isn't acceptable is for the government to cut money from the Stonehenge scheme and then not spend it more effectively on public transport improvements elsewhere.
Thursday 12/06/2007 4:22:01pm
Name: Marcus Ball
City/Country: Andover UK
Comments: The traffic queues at Stonehenge are an environmental catastrophe. There should be a solution ideally via a bypass but all the land around the site is sensitive. The Highways Authority could ease the situation on the A303 generally by erecting "merge in turn" signs where the dual carriageway becomes single lane. At present much of the delay is caused by drivers jockeying for position at these points, particularly the one before Stonehenge. Clear signage plus painted arrows on the road would help a bad situation but not solve it. As a surfer going on trips to Cornwall I favour a tunnel. As a taxpayer I think it's expensive. As someone interested in the environment I am not sure there is an easy answer. The government should however come up with a good answer and not just bury their heads in the sand. You can't please all of the people all of the time!!
Marcus Ball
Thursday 12/06/2007 12:14:42am
Name: Heritage Action
City/Country: UK and Ireland
Comments: Hooray!
Official confirmation that the World Heritage Site is not to be despoiled!
Congratulations to Save Stonehenge for your tireless defence of our national icon, which must have contributed to the final outcome.
We look forward to supporting you in your future efforts to ensure that sensible options are now adopted and to ensure that the damaging ones supported by certain official bodies are never revisited.
Best wishes and well done from all at Heritage Action.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks Nigel. Truly a team effort. Thanks for all your support over the last few years!
Name: Heritage Action
City/Country: UK and Ireland
Comments: Hooray!
Official confirmation that the World Heritage Site is not to be despoiled!
Congratulations to Save Stonehenge for your tireless defence of our national icon, which must have contributed to the final outcome.
We look forward to supporting you in your future efforts to ensure that sensible options are now adopted and to ensure that the damaging ones supported by certain official bodies are never revisited.
Best wishes and well done from all at Heritage Action.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks Nigel. Truly a team effort. Thanks for all your support over the last few years!
Wednesday 11/21/2007 12:53:20am
Name: george
City/Country: britain
Comments: ~
----- Original Message -----
From: "beakerspeaker"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:05 PM
Subject: [stonehengepeace] stonehenge tunnel cancelled
Comments:
> CAN REVEAL TONIGHT (AS REPOTED ON BBC
> SOUTH NEWS) THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT HAVE CANCELLED
> PERMINANTLY ANY PLANS TO BURY THE THE ROAD PAST
> STONEHENGE UNDER A TUNNEL. THE REASON AACORDING TO
> GOVT SOURCES AT MORE THAN 1/2 BILLION POUNDS IT IS TOO
> EXPENSIVE.
>
> AN OFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE GOVT IN THE
> NEXT FEW DAYS. IN FACT NONE OF THE PROPOSED OPTIONS,
> IT SEEMS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN,. INSTEAD IT BACK TO SQUARE ONE
> THE PROCESS TO FIND A SLUTION FOR STONEHENGE WILL START
> FROM SCRATCH. ONLY THIS TIME, DUE TO THE HIGH COSTS, THE
> THE TUNNEL OPTION WILL NOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED.
>
> WHAT A WAIST OF TAX PAYERS MONEY WEV'E HAD OVER THE
> LAST SEVERAL YEARS, COUNTLESS, CONSULTATIONS,
> PUBLIC ENQUIRIES ETC.., AND ALL FOR NOTHING!
>
> WILL WE EVER GET THE STONEHENGE WE DESRVE DISPLAYED
> IN THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS OF THE WORLD HERITAGE
> SITE. OR IS IT JUST A CASE OF THE GOVT NOT WILLING TO
> PROVIDE THE NESESARY FUNDS.
>
> IT SEAMS THAT THE GOVT WOULD PREFERE TO WAIST
> MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF TAX PAYERS MONEY ON OTHER
> CAUSES SUCH AS PROPING UP A BANK (NORTHRN ROCK)
> RATHER THAN ENSURING THE LONG TERM PRESERVATION OF
> ONE OF BRITAINS, AND ARGUABLY THE WORLDS FINEST
> ANCIENT MONUMENTS, STONEHENGE & THE WORLD HERITAGE
> SITE!
>
> IN SHORT THE WHOLE FISCO THAT HAS RUMBLED ON FOR THE
> LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BECOME A NATIONAL DISGRACE!
> http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/ forum/?thread=44801
Name: george
City/Country: britain
Comments: ~
----- Original Message -----
From: "beakerspeaker"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 12:05 PM
Subject: [stonehengepeace] stonehenge tunnel cancelled
Comments:
> CAN REVEAL TONIGHT (AS REPOTED ON BBC
> SOUTH NEWS) THAT THE UK GOVERNMENT HAVE CANCELLED
> PERMINANTLY ANY PLANS TO BURY THE THE ROAD PAST
> STONEHENGE UNDER A TUNNEL. THE REASON AACORDING TO
> GOVT SOURCES AT MORE THAN 1/2 BILLION POUNDS IT IS TOO
> EXPENSIVE.
>
> AN OFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE GOVT IN THE
> NEXT FEW DAYS. IN FACT NONE OF THE PROPOSED OPTIONS,
> IT SEEMS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN,. INSTEAD IT BACK TO SQUARE ONE
> THE PROCESS TO FIND A SLUTION FOR STONEHENGE WILL START
> FROM SCRATCH. ONLY THIS TIME, DUE TO THE HIGH COSTS, THE
> THE TUNNEL OPTION WILL NOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED.
>
> WHAT A WAIST OF TAX PAYERS MONEY WEV'E HAD OVER THE
> LAST SEVERAL YEARS, COUNTLESS, CONSULTATIONS,
> PUBLIC ENQUIRIES ETC.., AND ALL FOR NOTHING!
>
> WILL WE EVER GET THE STONEHENGE WE DESRVE DISPLAYED
> IN THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS OF THE WORLD HERITAGE
> SITE. OR IS IT JUST A CASE OF THE GOVT NOT WILLING TO
> PROVIDE THE NESESARY FUNDS.
>
> IT SEAMS THAT THE GOVT WOULD PREFERE TO WAIST
> MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF TAX PAYERS MONEY ON OTHER
> CAUSES SUCH AS PROPING UP A BANK (NORTHRN ROCK)
> RATHER THAN ENSURING THE LONG TERM PRESERVATION OF
> ONE OF BRITAINS, AND ARGUABLY THE WORLDS FINEST
> ANCIENT MONUMENTS, STONEHENGE & THE WORLD HERITAGE
> SITE!
>
> IN SHORT THE WHOLE FISCO THAT HAS RUMBLED ON FOR THE
> LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BECOME A NATIONAL DISGRACE!
> http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/ forum/?thread=44801
Wednesday 10/10/2007 4:45:33am
Name: Robert Townsend
City/Country: Powell, Wyoming USA
Comments: Sounds like politians and big business
are getting together to destroy something that should be perserved for another 5,000 years for the sake of money.... Politicians only care about themselves.....
Name: Robert Townsend
City/Country: Powell, Wyoming USA
Comments: Sounds like politians and big business
are getting together to destroy something that should be perserved for another 5,000 years for the sake of money.... Politicians only care about themselves.....
Saturday 08/25/2007 7:18:50pm
Name: justin
City/Country: england
Comments: I am disgusted at the way this site is treated. I attend many times a year, solstice and normal times and i think it is now a circus. Solstice this year had twenty odd thousand most were foreign tourists without a clue and very greedy and arrogant with it (ie pushing people out of the way, climbing stones ,shouting into phones etc). I have attended solstice since open access was reintroduced and the first few years were very peaceful.. ie only pagans/travellers attending and very nice peaceful worship taking place... 800 hundred people the first year!! Now I think English Heritage is behind all this greed by deliberately promoting this as an English hippie circus hence bringing in much more revenue for an already very greedy goverment-run body hence it is becoming very dangerous.
Has anyone tried attending on a normal night or day for that matter, tried to take pictures and been threatend with having their camera smashed by a thuggish security gaurd (road side of the fence of course) told they have to pay to come in to take pics (this wont apply to foreign folks only native english). The whole site is badly managed and corrupt. Nothing will change (road schemes etc) till the site is given back to the people, Avebury and Glastonbury tor is going the same way...watch this space.
Save Stonehenge writes: You're spot on with what you say about "bringing in much more revenue for an already very greedy goverment-run body". English Heritage wants to double visitor numbers even though the site can't take it. Why? There can be no other reason than money.
Thursday 08/16/2007 8:43:51am
Name: Richard Powderhill
City/Country: Birmingham
Comments: What developments on re-opening the Grateley-Amesbury-Stonehenge railway?
Local campaigners should recruit the interest of local M.E.P.`s in this matter.
Save Stonehenge writes: Richard, thanks for your continuing interest in the rail line idea. Unfortunately, no-one is actively pursuing it. The government is apparently interested only in pursuing road options. The Highways Agency, which is promoting the road scheme, has no mechanism for suddenly doing an about-face an promoting a rail project instead! However, the idea is occasionally mentioned from time to time.
Sunday 08/12/2007 8:33:19pm
Name: Michaela
City/Country: Hamburg/Germany
Comments: Its unbelieveable! I´ve been there 1998 and thought there is enough traffic around.
My opinion = lets put that big street somewhere else, and dont be stupid!
Save Stonehenge: Michaela: Vielen Dank. There's a lot of stupidity in England!
Tuesday 07/31/2007 9:18:15am
Name: Pete Grayson
City/Country: Amsterdam
Comments: It appears that Stonehenge and the Hill of Tara are not the only sites in danger. The Thornborough henges are being threatened by the planned expansion of quarrying in the countryside around them. Check out
http://www.timewatch.org/
Save Stonehenge writes: Thanks Pete. We've supported the Thornborough campaign for several years and are happy to keep promoting their good work. Cheers.
Saturday 06/30/2007 8:29:43pm
Name: Gazzit
City/Country: UK
Comments: This is an outrage! I can't believe
anyone would even consider to do this to such an important part of our
history and culture!
Friday 06/29/2007 0:40:27am
Name: samantha girling
City/Country: london
Comments: stonehenge has a extremely special meaning to myself and my family and i find it extremely disgusting that somebody wants to ruin a sacred site to make room for even more traffic.Only in this country would anybody want to destroy something this sacred. like someone previously said it is becoming more and more like a free glastonbury, and in the process many people are forgetting that the site is sacred to many people.
Friday 06/22/2007 1:12:22pm
Name: nicola
City/Country: hampshire uk
Comments: Its all good and well fighting to have stonehenge stay safe..... But when we have finally won this issue...
We still have to protect the stones from PARTY GOERS that attend on Litha.
24 thousand people turned up yesterday and it was a disgrace......standing on the stones......kicking them....even saw people chipping at them......
Open acess was agreed for Wiccans/Pagans druids and the like to celebrate at this sacred alter....NOW its turned in to a extention of Glastonbury Party!
Save Stonehenge writes:
People chipping at the stones?!##$$%% Unbelievable!
Saturday 06/09/2007 3:25:43pm
Name: Bradley Gwfawnaff
City/Country: Syracuse /USA
Comments: Im all for the saving such a beautiful place as stonehenge, all over the world so many places of beauty are destroyed by those who tell us they know what is best, Why did you build it near a road in the first place?
Monday 06/04/2007 11:15:26pm
Name: Pete
City/Country: Amsteram/Netherlands
Comments: There is a meeting of the World Monuments Fund on Thursday in London. Is anybody from this campaign going? If so you could meet up with the people of www.tarawatch.org who will also be there trying to get the Hill of Tara on the 100 most endangered sites list. Maybe Stonehenge could also get onto it.
The address is on the Tarawatch site.
Wednesday 05/23/2007 10:20:33am
Name: Douglas Holland
City/Country: Wales
Comments: This Government is willfully destroying our heritage, it is also destroying our reputation in the world with its crass ideas. We have just allowed them to bomb the cradle of civilisation, so what hope has Stonehenge got?
Name: Douglas Holland
City/Country: Wales
Comments: This Government is willfully destroying our heritage, it is also destroying our reputation in the world with its crass ideas. We have just allowed them to bomb the cradle of civilisation, so what hope has Stonehenge got?
Wednesday 05/16/2007 3:26:31pm
Name: T.R.
City/Country: U.S.A.
Comments: I think that Stonehenge is one of the worlds wonders, it should stay where it is as long as it can, so many people can see it's beauty. I know I haven't ever been to Stonehenge, but I am saving up to go there on day, and I hope it will still be around for me to see!
Name: T.R.
City/Country: U.S.A.
Comments: I think that Stonehenge is one of the worlds wonders, it should stay where it is as long as it can, so many people can see it's beauty. I know I haven't ever been to Stonehenge, but I am saving up to go there on day, and I hope it will still be around for me to see!
Tuesday 05/15/2007 10:34:24pm
Name: Martin
City/Country: Trowbridge
Comments: The land surrounding stonehenge is as equally sacred to the stone ensemble.
This government is attempting to take control over eveyone and their minds too. It is part of the erosion of personal soveriegnty by the NWO.Do everything within your powers to thwart this evil takeover!
Name: Martin
City/Country: Trowbridge
Comments: The land surrounding stonehenge is as equally sacred to the stone ensemble.
This government is attempting to take control over eveyone and their minds too. It is part of the erosion of personal soveriegnty by the NWO.Do everything within your powers to thwart this evil takeover!
Tuesday 04/24/2007 5:38:10pm
Name: Kevan Farmer
City/Country: Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, UK
Comments: To try to do my little bit I have set up an online petition that will be seen by Government.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stonehenge/
Name: Kevan Farmer
City/Country: Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, UK
Comments: To try to do my little bit I have set up an online petition that will be seen by Government.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Stonehenge/
Saturday 04/21/2007 12:06:36am
Name: Steffy
City/Country: linc's
Comments: If I wanted to build a house there i would be told where to get off, I am disgusted that the gov can even think of such a thing...makes me wonder why we put them in power in the first place!
Name: Steffy
City/Country: linc's
Comments: If I wanted to build a house there i would be told where to get off, I am disgusted that the gov can even think of such a thing...makes me wonder why we put them in power in the first place!
Name: Jess
City/Country: Cardiff, Wales
Comments: This is so infuriating... I am so angry!
City/Country: Cardiff, Wales
Comments: This is so infuriating... I am so angry!
Friday 04/20/2007 8:18:09pm
Name: marion price
City/Country: studley, warwickshire
Comments: why oh why do we persist in ridding ourselves of our hertitage. other countries place a lot of pride and effect in keeping their national icons but we british apparantly don`t.
well i do. for gods sake its our history they are affecting-whats next.... bulldozing adrains wall and putting up a chicken wire fence!
keep the country side around stonehedge as it is. it is full of artifacts from our past which we should guard for the future generations of people to come.
lets have a bit of pride and protect stonehedge and the area around it. after all...onces its gone its gone!!
Name: marion price
City/Country: studley, warwickshire
Comments: why oh why do we persist in ridding ourselves of our hertitage. other countries place a lot of pride and effect in keeping their national icons but we british apparantly don`t.
well i do. for gods sake its our history they are affecting-whats next.... bulldozing adrains wall and putting up a chicken wire fence!
keep the country side around stonehedge as it is. it is full of artifacts from our past which we should guard for the future generations of people to come.
lets have a bit of pride and protect stonehedge and the area around it. after all...onces its gone its gone!!
Friday 04/20/2007 2:51:04pm
Name: Amanda Dunsmore
City/Country: Camrose, AB, Canada
Comments: Wow, I can't believe they are still planning road consturction after all the special interest groups have made it clear how destructive it would be. Would it help to raise media awareness about the project? I'm not sure how things normally go in Britain, but here in Canada the easiest way to make government listen is an all out media campaign - public awareness and opinion does the rest. Let me know how things are going? I'm not a british citizen, but this is a subject of much interest among me and my friends here.
Warmest regards from Canada
Name: Amanda Dunsmore
City/Country: Camrose, AB, Canada
Comments: Wow, I can't believe they are still planning road consturction after all the special interest groups have made it clear how destructive it would be. Would it help to raise media awareness about the project? I'm not sure how things normally go in Britain, but here in Canada the easiest way to make government listen is an all out media campaign - public awareness and opinion does the rest. Let me know how things are going? I'm not a british citizen, but this is a subject of much interest among me and my friends here.
Warmest regards from Canada
Friday 04/20/2007 11:34:05am
Name: Phoebe Silverwolf
City/Country: United States
Comments: I don't know how much say that I have in this as I am a Yank, however destroying something on the callibur of stonehenge is like putting a highway through the pyramids. We wouldn't let that happen would we? So why let this happen? You go guys! Keep up the fight. I just wish there was another way for me to say something more. I know that every time I am in England, I make it a personal trip to see the stones. Loosing that even if its not the stones is horrible. There is so much still to be learned on those grounds. Not just because there is magick there, but also because there is a peice of history there. Another civilization there.
Name: Phoebe Silverwolf
City/Country: United States
Comments: I don't know how much say that I have in this as I am a Yank, however destroying something on the callibur of stonehenge is like putting a highway through the pyramids. We wouldn't let that happen would we? So why let this happen? You go guys! Keep up the fight. I just wish there was another way for me to say something more. I know that every time I am in England, I make it a personal trip to see the stones. Loosing that even if its not the stones is horrible. There is so much still to be learned on those grounds. Not just because there is magick there, but also because there is a peice of history there. Another civilization there.
Friday 03/16/2007 9:29:48pm
Name: d wragg
City/Country: Chesterfield
Comments: Get a life. Sitting in traffic jams is no fun. More & larger roads are the answer.
If we all listened to you we would be still in mud huts.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks for your thoughts. Who creates traffic jams? Generally, the people who sit in them. Traffic always expands to fill the space available, so "more and larger roads" cannot be the answer: they will simply scale up the problem without solving it. So perhaps we need to try something else now?
Name: d wragg
City/Country: Chesterfield
Comments: Get a life. Sitting in traffic jams is no fun. More & larger roads are the answer.
If we all listened to you we would be still in mud huts.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks for your thoughts. Who creates traffic jams? Generally, the people who sit in them. Traffic always expands to fill the space available, so "more and larger roads" cannot be the answer: they will simply scale up the problem without solving it. So perhaps we need to try something else now?
Monday 02/26/2007 2:15:58pm
Name: George
City/Country: Ringwood - Hampshire
Comments: Has there been any news yet? Is there anything I can do in the way of work on your website for you, host a forum or do something with the email-list to help out?
Regards.
Save Stonehenge writes: No news yet George. We've heard whispers that there may be an announcement soon, though they are just rumours at the moment. Thanks also for the kind offer of help.
Name: George
City/Country: Ringwood - Hampshire
Comments: Has there been any news yet? Is there anything I can do in the way of work on your website for you, host a forum or do something with the email-list to help out?
Regards.
Save Stonehenge writes: No news yet George. We've heard whispers that there may be an announcement soon, though they are just rumours at the moment. Thanks also for the kind offer of help.
Sunday 01/21/2007 4:50:09pm
Name: Lisa
City/Country: B'ham England
Comments: Why hasn't this made national news??? This is sickening. Why don't they contribute the money to those who need it like the women who have breast cancer and can't get the drugs they need. I am shocked and appalled. I wouldn't have known about this if I wasn't browsing.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Lisa... Glad you found us, if only by accident. The story makes national news (indeed international news) from time to time, but moves very slowly. See our press page.
As you say, huge amounts of money could be wasted here. If this makes you angry, you might like to question the 160-200 other road schemes the UK government is planning.
Thanks for the tip about petitions. An excellent group called Heritage Action is already running one, which you might like to sign:
http://www.heritageaction.org/
Best wishes... Chris.
Name: Lisa
City/Country: B'ham England
Comments: Why hasn't this made national news??? This is sickening. Why don't they contribute the money to those who need it like the women who have breast cancer and can't get the drugs they need. I am shocked and appalled. I wouldn't have known about this if I wasn't browsing.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Lisa... Glad you found us, if only by accident. The story makes national news (indeed international news) from time to time, but moves very slowly. See our press page.
As you say, huge amounts of money could be wasted here. If this makes you angry, you might like to question the 160-200 other road schemes the UK government is planning.
Thanks for the tip about petitions. An excellent group called Heritage Action is already running one, which you might like to sign:
http://www.heritageaction.org/
Best wishes... Chris.
Friday 01/12/2007 8:31:49pm
Name: Paul
City/Country: Bedfordshire
Comments: One thing which seems to have been overlooked by everybody is that Stonehenge is only there BECAUSE of the A303.
The A303 runs on the course of the prehistoric Harroway (which ran from Dover to the west of England) at Stonehenge and various other places and is the direct successor to the Harroway which has existed in some form or another for one million years, originating as a migratory track for cattle, probably escaping harsh european winters, when England was still joined to France, and has been an arterial transport route since humanity inhabited these isles.
It is very probable that Stonehenge was built where it was because of its nearness to the Harroway and the north south "Gold Road", another ancient trackway which crossed the Harroway at Weyhill. It has also been speculated that the Icknield way continued past the Ridgeway to merge with the Harroway at Weyhill giving access to Stonehenge from the east of England
Basically, the A303, aka the Harroway is the real ancient monument in the area with Stonehenge the junior monument!
While that may be a little flippant, it does suggest that to put the A303 in a tunnel would destroy the context of Stonehenge (a place in the middle of nowhere that nonetheless many people pass daily), remove the route that caused Stonehenge to be built where it is - a route that has been there ever since Stonehenge was built, and which futhermore has been principal way people have travelled to Stonehenge ever since Stonehenge was built.
Stonehenge would be left a bit like the old London bridge sitting forlornly in Arizona.
Putting the A303 into tunnel would probably also reduce the amount of people seeing Stonehenge by 90%. If children don't see it when they drive past it with their parents, will they ask their parents to visit it or visit it themselves when they are older?
Whatever happens in the future, the present situation could be improved immediately by closure of the A344 which would become a cul-de-sac accessed via the A360.
Alternatively the A303, A344 and A360 could be made one way. This would give the same capacity as a dual carriageway. A 30 miles per hour limit could be imposed within 1/2 mile of the stones and, as a later phase a short section of the A344 (say 100m)could be lowered and put into cut and cover tunnel to allow direct pedestrian access from the visitor centre and stop the stones being an Island.
Save Stonehenge writes: Thanks Paul, for a very thoughtful post. Made me think anyway!
Name: Paul
City/Country: Bedfordshire
Comments: One thing which seems to have been overlooked by everybody is that Stonehenge is only there BECAUSE of the A303.
The A303 runs on the course of the prehistoric Harroway (which ran from Dover to the west of England) at Stonehenge and various other places and is the direct successor to the Harroway which has existed in some form or another for one million years, originating as a migratory track for cattle, probably escaping harsh european winters, when England was still joined to France, and has been an arterial transport route since humanity inhabited these isles.
It is very probable that Stonehenge was built where it was because of its nearness to the Harroway and the north south "Gold Road", another ancient trackway which crossed the Harroway at Weyhill. It has also been speculated that the Icknield way continued past the Ridgeway to merge with the Harroway at Weyhill giving access to Stonehenge from the east of England
Basically, the A303, aka the Harroway is the real ancient monument in the area with Stonehenge the junior monument!
While that may be a little flippant, it does suggest that to put the A303 in a tunnel would destroy the context of Stonehenge (a place in the middle of nowhere that nonetheless many people pass daily), remove the route that caused Stonehenge to be built where it is - a route that has been there ever since Stonehenge was built, and which futhermore has been principal way people have travelled to Stonehenge ever since Stonehenge was built.
Stonehenge would be left a bit like the old London bridge sitting forlornly in Arizona.
Putting the A303 into tunnel would probably also reduce the amount of people seeing Stonehenge by 90%. If children don't see it when they drive past it with their parents, will they ask their parents to visit it or visit it themselves when they are older?
Whatever happens in the future, the present situation could be improved immediately by closure of the A344 which would become a cul-de-sac accessed via the A360.
Alternatively the A303, A344 and A360 could be made one way. This would give the same capacity as a dual carriageway. A 30 miles per hour limit could be imposed within 1/2 mile of the stones and, as a later phase a short section of the A344 (say 100m)could be lowered and put into cut and cover tunnel to allow direct pedestrian access from the visitor centre and stop the stones being an Island.
Save Stonehenge writes: Thanks Paul, for a very thoughtful post. Made me think anyway!
Tuesday 01/09/2007 3:02:01am
Name: Zachary
City/Country: Tulsa/oklahoma
Comments: i am a Druid that has come from ireland to live in america with my family. When I found out that they were going to do that to The most powerfull land mark the Druids have and probably the only powerfull landmark I was furious. I appreciate all of the alliances for comeing together and saving mine and others heritage from total destruction.
Name: Zachary
City/Country: Tulsa/oklahoma
Comments: i am a Druid that has come from ireland to live in america with my family. When I found out that they were going to do that to The most powerfull land mark the Druids have and probably the only powerfull landmark I was furious. I appreciate all of the alliances for comeing together and saving mine and others heritage from total destruction.
Saturday 11/18/2006 3:13:18pm
Name: Matt
City/Country: Glasgow
Comments: Hi, I'm an archaeology student and according to all the information I can find on the internet, the plans to widen the A303 were dropped years ago and there are now plans to dramatically reduce the amount of traffic passing through.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Would that it were so. There have been many plans, over many years, but the current plans are now sitting on Transport Minster Stephen Ladyman's desk waiting for a decision.
Officially, the UK government's "preferred scheme" is still to tunnel and bulldoze a widened A303 through the World Heritage Site. You can find our latest news update here:
http://www.savestonehenge.org.uk/ rescueautumn06.html
Monday 10/30/2006 1:08:42pm
Name: George
City/Country: Ringwood.
Comments: Give me a break! This has to stop. What's the song, "They paved paradise to put up a parking lot"! We need to get rid of roads, not destroy heritage sites. Everyone with a conscience needs to get involved in stopping these half baked plans....
Thursday 10/12/2006 10:35:58pm
Name: Caroline Guerin
City/Country: Dublin, Ireland
Comments: Meanwhile, another travesty is happening in Ireland. The government plans to build the M3 motorway through the historic Tara/Skryne valley. See a short film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtdK6ytIBg0
and visit:
http://www.tara-foundation.org
Solidarity
Save Stonehenge writes:
Thanks Caroline. Good luck!
Wednesday 10/04/2006 0:24:00am
Name: Dan McGarry
City/Country: Berlin Germany
Comments: What is happening to all of our sacred sites these days? It seems that they are purposefully being targeted for defacement and disrespect. The same thing is happening to the Hill of Tara in Ireland which is also under threat from an 'M3' motorway route, see http://www.tarawatch.org/ for more details. We cannot stand by and let the greed of modern man permanently spoil our cultural heritage. It's not like we have much else to be proud of these days. Sites like Stonehenge and Tara need our respect and preservation. Keep fighting the good fight.
Sunday 08/27/2006 4:35:44pm
Name: Janis E Davies
City/Country: Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates
Comments: I am British. I am proud to be Welsh. But I am passionate about the heritage of the UK - because I am British. We have to stop the destruction of the areas close to our heritage sites. Do they not realise the damage that will be done to these precious heirlooms! What are they thinking. Is the Government so hell bent on making the UK a "Universal" country that our ie the British past does not count anymore. Shall we just give our country to the immigrants and let them do what they will with it? I was always taught - when in Rome - but that is not what is happening in the UK. Everyone else but the "actual" British people's needs matter. And you wonder why I have been in the Middle East since 1982. The British Goverment is an abomination. They are working for everyone but the British people. But to now destroy our heritage as well!!!!!! Words finally fail me.
From an expat who sees how other countries deal with immigrants!!!!!!!!! When will our Government ever learn?
Sunday 07/16/2006 0:10:05am
Name: jaime
City/Country: US
Comments: ok now I'm 13 in 2 weeks and I'm homeschooled my mom told me when I get older to go explore before college and Stonehenge was and still is the first place I want to go. Yah it will still be there but it's suppose to be a soothing quiet experience and this might just be me but I don't think car horns, 18 wheelers, and loud brake noises are something I want to hear when I touch those stones so I think they shouldn't even build it.
Saturday 07/08/2006 9:27:23pm
Name: John
City/Country: Hastings/UK
Comments: Perhaps if they can't afford the tunnel, they should close the road entirely. I'm sure there are other roads through that part of the country that can be used instead and upgraded to take the extra traffic far away from Salisbury and Stonehenge.
Thursday 06/15/2006 12:51:00am
Name: Dave Holmes
City/Country: Basingstoke, UK
Comments: According to the local news Stonehenge is the most important archaeological site of its type in Europe. I have driven in mainland Europe and been impressed with their empty, good quality roads that, according to the billboards, were paid for by EU money. Is it not about time we started getting some payback from our relatively high contributions? If its important to Europe then let the EU contribute to a new road.
Monday 05/15/2006 12:13:29am
Name: Anthony H.Weeks
City/Country: Indiana U.S.A.
Comments: WHY CHANGE SOMETHING THAT HAS 5000 YR HISTORY.DAH,REROUT A303,MAYBE PICK UP SOME OF THE CONGESTED SALISBURY TRAFFIC.DURRINGTON WAS MY HOME FOR 18 YEARS,DO NOT CHANGE HISTORY.
Thursday 05/11/2006 12:57:51am
Name: Pete
City/Country: Amsterdam
Comments: Maybe the organisers of this site could contact the people at Tarawatch to exchange notes etc. as they are also fighting a motorway through the area around the Hill of Tara Ireland's most important archeolgical site. I think we should show solidarity to them in their fight.
Save Stonehenge writes: Thanks Pete. We were in touch with them some time ago and do have a link to their campaign on our links page. Anyone who'd like to know more, please visit http://www.taraskryne.org/
Friday 03/17/2006 10:40:10pm
Name: Graham Parker
City/Country: Salisbury Wiltshire
Comments: A new plan for the removal of all roads from the WHS by the provision of a bypass for Stonehenge has now been sent to the Minister for State. Dr Stephen Ladyman MP. You may see this new plan by going to: www.stonehengesolution.co.uk Please send any comment to me at the email address given We want to hear from you please.
Friday 03/17/2006 8:49:59pm
Name: Alan Turner
City/Country: GB
Comments: Do not build a tunnel. The view of Stonehenge from the A303 is magnificent and memorable and should be preserved
Thursday 03/16/2006 7:57:55pm
Name: rob Dewick
City/Country: Nottinghamshire
Comments: I remember going down there as a student .. we were up late and decided, on a whim , to go to stonehenge..man. It was a fantastic trip , we got there for dawn... it clouded over ..boo. But this took nothing away from the sheer magnificence of this 'sacred' place... perhaps I'm dreaming there though , as , when i come to think of it ..it was shrowded...not being celebrated... as it should. Pre dating modern religions, it provides us with a piece of evidence to question the worlds pre occupation with the 'supreme being' ... or God. I wonder if Tony has a plan for this place.. maybe god has told him to nullify this powerful symbol that once upon a time mankind worshipped our sun and earth.. not some false creator... There's something to put in the curriculum of a Religiously motivated Trust school? Or perhaps this is the future , instead of dumbing down science, lets pretend we are some 15 century pope and erase it !..In Alabama, biology textbooks carry a warning that says that evolution is ?a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. . ' Anyway , back to Stonehenge.. rant rant.. Don't let them degrade this wonder with a concrete jungle ! I oppose this planned development. Re route the road away and turn it into a park .. please.
Rob Dewick , Science teacher, Nottingham.
Wednesday 03/08/2006 10:12:51am
Name: sioux
City/Country: no fixed abode
Comments: It is already impossible to visit Stonehenge without A. being made to pay and B. being subjected to official interpretations. There are many who feel their interpretations are as valid, these are experienced by being there.Once a tunnel is built for the road, no one EVER AGAIN will drive past and say "Dad, Mum what's that?" People will have to make specific journeys to visit the place and access will be lost to huge numbers of people. This is probably what the government wants as Stonehenge has been a focus and gathering place for millenia. Good luck with the campaign. Meanwhile, I am concentrating on the threat to another less well known circle, i.e 9 ladies in Derbyshire which is under threat from quarrying. We must preserve our ancient heritage but we must also be aware of its modern relevance.
Monday 02/20/2006 2:55:23am
Name: JCaeiroAntunes
City/Country: Lisboa
Comments: Sacred places should continue, just because even christianism has only 2000 years. Stonehenge has more years! There is no reason to loose faith even after knowing how to build a church! Believe it or not, Stonehenge mistery is beeing solved in this pages.
Wednesday 02/15/2006 1:59:19pm
Name: chris richards
City/Country: england
Comments: Nothing is sacred. As always the powers that be care little for what remains of our beautiful land. The money earmarked for this abomination and others would be better spent integrating current road/public transport systems.
Friday 02/03/2006 8:15:24pm
Name: ruby cartledge m( leaves)
City/Country: southport
Comments: Like everyone else I grieve for our ancient roots and sacred sights.
Firstly the British Isles is native home
to only a handful of native british celts
( MUCH LIKE AMERICAN INDIANS) we seem to have lost control over our lands and heritage.
Now our native British Isles is no longer the British Isles but the "united kingdom" ( united to europe and the european orientated hierarchies inc the British Government who wish to stamp out our culture, stamp out our sacred heritage, stamp out our native tongue And ultimatly stamp out the native british celt in favour of a new kingdom of europe the "united Kingdom" This new european domineon that spells out how this country is going to behave and which routes it will take.
RISE UP NATIVE BRITAINS SAVE OUR SITES , SAVE OUR HERITAGE
.(SEE KIETH AND OTHER POSTS AND I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THESE.)No we don't want another @#%$! road motorway or anything else... leave well alone please.
Another terrified Britain
broad (family origins somerset)
Thursday 02/02/2006 2:45:34pm
Name: Keith Turner
City/Country: Melksham, Wiltshire
Comments: The most important thing is to close the A344 from the A303 junction to the site and restore the landscape so that visitors can walk up The Avenue to the stones as they have done for millennia.
The second most important is to improve the visitors centre. I have been quite ashamed to talk about this on trips abroad.
Then and only then should we start thinking about pie-in-the-sky road building schemes.
Save Stonehenge writes:
Absolutely!
Friday 11/04/2005 5:21:34pm
Name: Graham Parker
City/Country: Salisbury.
Comments: The A303 Realignment Plan that was presented to the Inquiry will ensure that the whole of the WHS is left undisturbed for future generations. The WHS would then be completely clear of all roads and a decision for the location of a new Visitors Centre could be placed in the hands of archaeologists - the right people.
The A303 Realignment moves the A303 south and follows the road corridors of the A345 and the A360. The plan has very wide advantages and those who object to further road building should understand that the plan will allow the grassing-over of a considerable area of roads in the WHS. Furthermore, because the plan provides the long awaited Salsibury bypass and the long awaited Wylye Valley bypass at the same time the whole project provides excellent value for money at some �115M (2004 prices) as costed by a professional consultancy.
Please take the trouble to go to the excellent web-site ( www.stonehengesolution.co.uk)that explains the proposal as this is certainly going to be presented again as a realistic and cost effective option in January 2006.
Name: Steve
City/Country: Bath/Somerset
Comments: Could you please tell me what your plan is to improve the site? Do you have a link to your proposal?
Do you think it should be left as it is?
I think the present site is a national embarrassment.
Save Stonehenge writes:
[edited post]
Steve: We've never said the site should be left as it is. We have a short page summarizing alternatives to the current scheme.
For years, we've called for the closure of the A344/A303 junction -- which would bring an immediate improvement to the area round the stones -- and a smaller-scale upgrade of the visitor centre. Effectively the A344 could become a small access road to the stones, stopping well short of them. Heritage Action call this the Achievable Stonehenge campaign.
If we pursue small-scale, appropriate improvements we have much more chance of actually achieving them. This scheme fell down because it was too big, bloated, and grandiose. No-one could agree. Let's do the small-scale improvements people can agree on first and see how much we can improve things.
You can see that a consensus is finally emerging on this now. Even Robert Key, Salisbury's MP, has called for this sort of thing.