Highways Agency Leaflet: Announcement of Preferred Route: June 1999

A303 Stonehenge (incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke bypass)
Preferred Route Announcement
June 1999

Following public consultation in January 1999 the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has announced a decision on the preferred route for the A303 Stonehenge (incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke bypass) scheme.

This leaflet summarises the results of the consultation and sets out the Secretary of State's decision.

 

Background

In July 1998 the Government announced in 'A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England' that the A303 Stonehenge improvement, incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke bypass, would be developed as an 'exceptional environmental scheme'. The scheme is a central element of the Government's proposals set out in the Stonehenge Master Plan which include the removal of traffic from the area of the Stonehenge monument by use of a 2km tunnel and the recreation of its unique landscape. The scheme would also remove main road traffic from the community of Winterbourne Stoke.

Proposals for the improvement of the A303 trunk road between Amesbury and Berwick Down, including the section past Stonehenge and a bypass of Winterbourne Stoke, have been the subject of extensive study and consultation since 1991.

These include:

• 1991 to 1993 -- initial route identification and study
• 1993 -- public consultation
• 1993 to 1995 -- alternative route identification and study
• 1995 -- planning conference
• 1998 -- new scheme incorporating a 2km tunnel announced by Government

The challenge has been to find an acceptable solution for the improvement of the section through the World Heritage Site past Stonehenge. In July 1998 the Government announced that this section would be dualled on the line of the existing road with the 2km section closest to the stones placed in tunnel.

 

Why a road improvement is proposed

The A303 trunk road is an important business and holiday route between the M3 and the West Country. The 9km (5.5 mile) section between Amesbury and Berwick Down, West of Winterbourne Stoke, is the first section of single carriageway encountered by westbound traffic.

The road passes through the Stonehenge World Heritage Site close to the monument itself. The A344 joins the A303 East of the monument and passes closer to the stones. The proximity of these two roads has a major detrimental effect on the setting of Stonehenge and other archaeological features within the World Heritage Site. Around Stonehenge there is noise and visual intrusion from traffic and also air pollution.

The Western section of this single carriageway passes through the village of Winterbourne Stoke on substandard horizontal and vertical alignments. This introduces traffic noise and air pollution to the village and its conservation area. The road also causes severance to the village.

The existing road already carries traffic flows in excess of its theoretical capacity. Consequently there is serious queuing on the approaches to the single carriageway sections and Countess roundabout, particularly on Friday and Sunday evenings and Saturdays in summer.

This section of road has an accident rate above the national average for this type of road, with significant numbers of accidents occurring at the junction with the A344 and A360 and through Winterbourne Stoke.

 

Choice of route

Since 1991 over 50 alternative routes have been considered. The main planning and environmental constraints that influenced the selection of the route are shown on the plan [NB: Please refer to hardcopy leaflet for this]

The route shown at public consultation in January 1999 included a dual carriageway starting at the end of the existing dual carriageway at Berwick Down west of Winterbourne Stoke. It followed the existing road before curving north to pass the corner of Scotland Lodge farm, avoiding the Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest and an archaeological enclosure and ring ditch. It then curved to cross the B3083 and River Till about 250 metres north of the village and followed a dry valley to rejoin the line of the existing road west of Longbarrow crossroads.

East of Longbarrow crossroads the route dualled the existing road with the new carriageway to the South to minimise the impact on archaeology and the National Trust land and use the existing roadway. The line moved to the South of the existing road for about 600 metres at Stonehenge Bottom to achieve an acceptable curve. The section from 3000 metres west of the Wilsford Down byway to Stonehenge Cottages was in a 2km cut-and-cover tunnel. The new dual carriageway joined the existing dual carriageway (Amesbury bypass) approximately 1km west of Countess roundabout.

 

Junction options

The consultation also sought views on junction provision. Three options were shown for junctions to provide access to Winterbourne Stoke as follows:

• Option 1 -- one-way junctions with the existing A303 at each end of the village
• Option 2 -- an all movement junction with the B3083
• Option 3 -- a half junction with the B3083 for eastbound traffic and single slip roads to the existing A303 at each end of the village for westbound traffic

Three options were put forward for the improvement of Longbarrow crossroads, an improved at-grade roundabout, a conventional grade separated junction and a half-cloverleaf junction to the West of the A360.

In addition three possible options were suggested for the improvement of Countess roundabout. These were, signal control of the existing roundabout with the A303 taken through the centre of the main island, signal control of the existing roundabout with adjustments to the carriageway and lane widths and grade separation.

 

Consultation arrangements

National and local organisations, including Government departments, local authorities and other bodies with an interest in, or affected by, the scheme were sent copies of the consultation brochure and questionnaire in January 1999. Copies were also sent to affected land owners. About 9500 copies of the brochure and questionnaire were delivered to residents in the vicinity of the proposed route. Copies were also available at newsagents and garages in the area.

A presentation of the proposals was made to officers and elected members of Wiltshire County Council, Salisbury District Council and local parish councils. Representatives of other interest groups also attended. A public exhibition was held at Antrobus House, Amesbury on 15 and 16 January 1999. The exhibition was advertised in the local press and on local radio and posters were placed in local post offices.

Respondents to the consultation were asked to complete a questionnaire that asked:

• Do you have any comments on the proposed route of the Winterbourne Stoke bypass?
• Do you have a preference for any of the Winterbourne Stoke junction options?
• Do you have any other comments on the Longbarrow crossroads junction proposals?
• Do you have any views on the Countess roundabout junction?
• Do you have any other comments?

 

Responses

Over 830 people attended the exhibition. A total of 359 written responses to the consultation were received. These were either completed questionnaires or letters to the Highways Agency. The general public provided 95% of these responses. The remainder were from official or representative bodies including local authorities and special interest groups.

65% of the responses were from the area closest to the proposed route (Amesbury, West Amesbury, Durrington, Shrewton and Winterbourne Stoke). A further 22% of the responses were from elsewhere in the Salisbury postal district and the remaining 13% from outside the Salisbury postal district.

 

Analysis of the responses

Analysis of the responses showed the following:

• 269 out of 359 respondents (75%) expressed a view on the Winterbourne Stoke bypass. 75% of the 269 supported the proposed route. A number of minor adjustments to the line were suggested particularly by affected land owners. The remaining respondents who expressed a view supported alternative routes, expressed no preference or opposed the bypass.
• 233 out of 359 respondents (65%) expressed a view on the Winterbourne Stoke junction options. From the 233 the response was as follows: option 1 (48%), option 2 (33%), option 3 (9%), did not support specific proposed option (10%).
• The suggestion was made at an Eastern access for Winterbourne Stoke could be combined with the Longbarrow crossroads junction.
• 166 out of 359 respondents (46%) expressed a view on the Longbarrow crossroads junction. 74% of the 166 supported grade separation. The remaining respondents who expressed a view supported other junction types (including no change) or did not express a preference.
• 271 out of 359 respondents (75%) expressed a view on Countess rojundabout. 71% of the 271 supported grade separation. The remaining respondents who expressed a view supported other solutions including signalisation no change or did not express a preference.

Other comments expressed concerning the trunk road proposals included:

• Opposition to the proposed cut-and-cover tunnel, either considering it unnecessary and a waste of money or considering that a longer bored tunnel should be built.
• The scheme should be built as soon as possible.
• Concern that the view of Stonehenge from the A303 would be lost.
• Improvement of Countess roundabout should be part of the scheme.

 

Partnering approach

The scheme is an integral part of the Government's vision for the Stonehenge World Heritage Site as set out in the Stonehenge Master Plan. The Highways Agency are responsible for the delivery of the trunk road improvement through the statutory procedures but this will be carried out in the context of the Master Plan. The implementation of the Master Plan is being overseen by a Steering Group supported by an Executive Group and five Working Groups, one of which is concerned with the trunk proposals.

The Working Groups are attended by representatives from official organisations relevant to the particular area of interest, who are fully involved in discussions and consultations. These bodies express their views through the working groups and support the proposals in principle. These official bodies are:

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Department of The Environment, Transport and the Regions
• English Heritage
• The Highways Agency
• English Nature
• Environment Agency
• National Trust
• Wiltshire County Council
• Salisbury District Council
• Amesbury Town Council
• Government Office for the South West

 

The views of the Highways Agency

The public consultation has demonstrated that there is considerable support for the proposed A303 Stonehenge (incorporating the Winterbourne Stoke bypass) scheme.

Having carefully considered the views of all respondents and other information collected on the design of the scheme and its environmental effects, the Highways Agency recommended that the Secretary of State protect the preferred route, including the cut-and-cover tunnel, as shown on the plan.

The recommended preferred route differs from the route shown at the public consultation in the following respects:

• The line has been moved slightly to the north where it passes Scotland Lodge Farm to minimise the direct impact on that land holding.
• The section of the Winterbourne Stoke bypass east of the B3083 has been modified by moving it north by up to 150 metres to reduce the direct impact on the residents of the village and Manor Farm. This also avoids an area of springs.
• The route has been moved south of the existing Longbarrow crossroads junction to allow space for a new junction whilst minimising the impact on the highly sensitive archaeology in the area. The design of the new junction will not be finalised until further extensive environmental assessment has been completed.
• The extension of the scheme to include the improvement Countess roundabout has been agreed. Two options are under consideration and on the basis of analysis to date a flyover appears the better option. Further detailed assessment is in progress.

 

The decision of the Secretary of State

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has considered the views of those who responded to the consultation and the recommendations of the Highways Agency.

He has concurred with the recommendations of the Highways Agency and has according announced the preferred route incorporating the modifications listed above.

 

What happens next?

The route shown on the plan is now designated the preferred route and is protected from development.

Further work, including more detailed environmental assessment, is required before the precise location and detailed design of junctions and the carriageways can be finalised. Following this, draft orders will be published under the Highways Act 1980 and an Environmental Statement will be issued.

At that stage there will be wide publicity and a further opportunity for people to comment or object. A a public inquiry is likely to follow if any objections are left unresolved. If a public inquiry is held the Inspector will report and a formal decision to proceed, or otherwise, will be confirmed by the Secretary of State and the findings will be published. Land would then be acquired and construction would start.

All elements of the scheme will be kept under review as the proposals are developed in more detail but specific consideration will be given to:

• Minimising the environmental effects by careful attention to design and mitigation.

• The location and detailed design of junctions.

 

Further information

Copies of a plan showing the preferred route will be issued to local planning authorities for planning and development control purposes.

Two reports have been prepared: Report on the January 1999 Public Exhibition and Consultation, which summarises the responses to the consultation; and a Scheme Assessment Report, which explains the factors which determined in choice of route. The reports can be inspected during office house at the following locations:

Wiltshire County Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8JG

Salisbury District Council, The Council House, Bourne Hill, Salisbury SP1 3YZ

Winterbourne Stoke, Shrewton, Berwick St James, Wilsford Cum Lake and Durrington Parish Council Clerks and Amesbury Town Council Clerk have also been sent copies of the reports. They have been asked to make these reports available to local people. Copies can also be purchased from the Highways Agency at the address below (the charges cover the cost of printing and materials only):

Report on the January 1999 Public Exhibition and Consultation: £27.00

Scheme Assessment Report: £24.00

Further copies of this statement can be obtained from:

A303 Stonehenge Project Team, Highways Agency, Project Services, Room 414, Tollgate House, Houlton Street, Bristol, BS2 9DJ

Highways Agency Information Line 0345 50 40 30

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