Calls for Stonehenge to go on World Heritage in Danger List

Stonehenge Alliance is supporting UNESCO in its recommendation that the Stonehenge and Avesbury World Heritage Site be placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to the A303 road scheme.

The recommendation is contained in a report to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee that will be meeting in July in India.

The report states that National Highways and the UK Government have proposed changes to the scheme to cut through the Bronze Age landscape on the western side of the site. These include "cantilevered sides" and another "green bridge" adding £50m to the scheme costs. 

Also shared is frustration with the UK Government after they did not take on UNESCO’s request to pause all work to allow further discussion. This was seen earlier in the year when National Highways pressed ahead with closure of the A360 to carry out preparatory works for the scheme.

The proposed Stonehenge tunnel (Image: Newsquest)

John Adams, chair of the Stonehenge Alliance and one of the three directors of SSWHS said: “This is a damming verdict on National Highways’ plans. Its minor tweaks have quite rightly cut no ice with UNESCO. You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig. Whichever way you look at it, this scheme will be hugely damaging and should be scrapped.

"The money should be spent instead on improving public transport links to and around the South West. That would be the best way of reducing pressure on the A303, while still retaining the view of the Stones for passing travellers.”

Tom Holland, president of the Stonehenge Alliance said: “When in a hole, stop digging – and when the hole is one that has been dug by your political opponents, definitely stop digging. The new Government will have the perfect opportunity to reverse a road scheme that is not only ludicrously expensive, but risks huge damage to the country’s international reputation.

"We hope that whoever comes to power next week will seize it.”