Bullsh.. baffles brains......No it doesn't!

A story came up in many of Friday's newspapers and Sarah Knapton, science editor for the Daily Telegraph, has this headline:
"STONEHENGE TUNNEL COULD WRECK ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE!"
Messers (Sic) Darvill, Jacques and Rhind Tutt have chosen this time to announce the discovery of one the earliest settlements close to Stonehenge - at a place called Blick Mead and say the Mesolithic camp could be destroyed if the A303 is buried into a tunnel.   The encampment apparently dates from around 4,000BC and it is thought the site was originally occupied by hunter gatherers returning to Britain after the Ice Age......well.....you know what thought did.....planted a feather and thought it would grow a hen!!  
These archaeologists have found flint at Blick Mead (found all over South Wiltshire, incidentally) and apparently, other signs of occupation on the site.   Quite frankly, the finding of arty facts of any kind is not new and will continue to be found all over Britain till Hell freezes over.   But I suppose it keeps them in a job and pays the mortgage!
Comments by the thousand have been written since the PM's announcement on 1st December, that the A303 is to "go under ground", past the World Heritage Site of Stonehenge or WHS, most of which, express the procedure to be detrimental to the archaeology in the area and history of England.  Actually, anything that happened yesterday - is history.   Are we therefore saying, that building the town of Amesbury, the new and continuing development at Solstice Park and the building of the Holiday Inn, did not throw up arty facts of any kind??  I've heard very few complaints about archaeology disturbance from anyone on that front.  With regard to disturbance of archaeology in the area, it would be pertinent to assume that the Geologists and Archaeologists who will design said tunnel, will have the necessary X-ray equipment to understand where this or that bone is to be found.   We really need to get this right in our minds, the construction will be a
"Long DEEP Bore Tunnel" i.e. well under ground maybe even 40 meters, not just simply "a digger" type construction at upper level.   If one Google's "Tunnel Boring Machine" or TBM - Wikipedia comes up with an easy to understand explanation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_boring_machine  It says: TBMs have the advantages of limiting the disturbance to the surrounding ground and producing a smooth tunnel wall. This significantly reduces the cost of lining the tunnel, and makes them suitable to use in heavily urbanised areas.   There is also an explanation of this method of tunnelling, weighing up the cost of using these machines against the cost of drill and blast and says cost is lower due to the efficiency of this method coupled with making the project shorter.   Here is the diagram of tunnelling under Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada.

The average deceased is buried 6 - 10 feet underground and even Neolithic man would not have had the where with all or tools to bury their dead or arty facts below this level.
Therefore, why on earth would we allow a "new find" to prevent progress in getting the A303 moving, the economy evolving and the reduction of "rat running" through local villages.  
And for the "anti tunnel" brigade.....if it's what's on the table, lets have some of it and get the job done!!!   Too much money and time has been wasted!

I draw your attention to a well known song:
"There was I a-diggin'-this-'ole"
and we all know the tune.....after three.......

 There I was, a-digging this hole
A hole in the ground, so big and sort of round it was
There was I, digging it deep
It was flat at at the bottom and the sides were steep
When along, comes this bloke in a bowler which he lifted and scratched his head
Well we looked down the hole, poor demented soul and he said
Do you mind if I make a suggestion?
Don't dig there, dig it elsewhere
Your digging it round and it ought to be square
The shape of it's wrong, it's much too long
And you can't put hole where a hole don't belong
I ask, what a liberty eh
Nearly bashed him right in the bowler
Well there was I, stood in me hole
Shovelling earth for all I was worth
There was him, standing up there
So grand and official with his nose in the air
So I gave him a look sort of sideways and I leaned on my shovel and sighed
Well I lit me a fag and having took a drag I replied
I just couldn't bear, to dig it elsewhere
I'm digging it round co's I don't want it square
And if you disagree it doesn't bother me
That's the place where the holes gonna be
Well there we were, discussing this hole
A hole in the ground so big and sort of round it was
Well it's not there now, the ground's all flat
And beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat
And that's that

Winter Solstice at Stonehenge - stuff you need to know......

 

 

 

Wiltshire Council

Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984

Various Temporary Traffic Restrictions: Stonehenge Winter Solstice 2014

(Ref:TTRO 3655)
Notice is hereby given that the Wiltshire Council has made Orders to:
Temporarily close to vehicles:

(a) Byway 10 (Part), Durrington; from its junction with Fargo Road to its junction with Byway
12, Amesbury / A344.

(b) Byway 12 (Part), Amesbury; from its junction with Byway 10, Durrington / A344 to its

junction with A303 (T).

And to temporarily close to all vehicles, Pedestrians and Equestrians:

(c) Byway 12 (Part), Amesbury; from its junction with A303 (T) in a southerly direction for a

distance of approximately 500 metres to its junction with Byway 1, Wilsford cum Lake.

(d) Byway 11 (Part), Amesbury; from its junction with A303 (T) in a southerly direction for a

distance of approximately 500 metres.

And to introduce a temporary No Waiting at Any Time restriction on the following lengths of

road:

(e) A360 (Part) Winterbourne Stoke; from its junction with A303 Longbarrow Roundabout to

its junction with A344 (Airman’s Corner).

(f) A360 (Part) Winterbourne Stoke; from its junction with A344 (Airman’s Corner) in a

westerly direction towards Shrewton for a distance of approximately 1 kilometre.

(g) B3086 (Part) Winterbourne Stoke / Shrewton; from its junction with A360 / A344

(Airman’s Corner) in a northerly direction to its junction with The Packway (Rollestone
Crossroads).
These Orders are made to ensure public safety during the period of the Stonehenge
Winter Solstice.
Sections (a)and (b) will come into operation on at 17:00 Sunday 21st

December 2014 and will remain in force until 12 noon on Monday

22nd 

 December 2014. Sections (c) and (d) will

come into operation at 00:01 on Thursday 18th

December 2014 and will remain in force until

00:01 on Tuesday 23rd

December 2014. Sections (e), (f) and (g) will come into operation at

06:00 on Sunday 21st

December 2014 and will remain in force until 12 noon on Monday 22nd

December 2014. Entry to the sections of byway indicated by (a) to (d) will be conditional
upon permits to be issued by English Heritage. The Orders for sections (a) – (d) will have a
maximum duration of six months. The Order for sections (e) – (g) will have a maximum
duration of 18 months.

For further information please contact Simon Rowe (Wiltshire Council) on 0300 456 100.

or
www.english-heritage.org.uk

More information from :
SPECIAL shuttle buses will be taking people to Stonehenge this year to mark the Winter Solstice.
Salisbury Reds is running its 333 service between 6am and 7.25am from Salisbury New Canal on Monday (December 22) with buses returning from Stonehenge between 8.10am and 8.30am.
The service will also stop at Salisbury Railway Station and Salisbury Street in Amesbury.
“Buses will leave Salisbury from early on Monday morning, to give customers plenty of time to reach the stones and mark the Winter Solstice in their own way,” said Salisbury Reds communications manager, Nikki Honer.
“We already work closely with English Heritage at Stonehenge - providing buses to the location for those wishing to leave their cars behind - but this is a very special occasion.“The aim is to make it as easy as possible for people to come and take in the magical atmosphere here early on Monday morning.”
Tickets cost £10 for an adult return. These can also be used to travel back to Salisbury on the official tour bus for those wishing to leave the site later on. Child tickets (between 5 and 14 years) cost £5 return.

For more information about the shuttle service and its timetable visit www.salisburyreds.co.uk

A303 The Story of this beleaguered road from 1958 > present day......

John Glen MP for Salisbury has just posted this statement on his web page: johnglenmp.com from Monday's announcement to fix the A303.....make a cup of tea and read it here:
http://johnglenmp.com/media-comment/historic-victory-as-2bn-pledged-for-a303/

John came to visit STAG in October 2013 to offer his support as soon as his diary would allow, and that support has never faulted in the 14 months since STAG was established, recognising that we are a campaign in our own right.....On the other hand, a number of the Councillors within Amesbury Area Board (AAB) have so far failed to take us seriously.......take note AAB.......we and our team members have worked tirelessly to reach this milestone announcement by the government on 1st December.   This is borne out from John Glen's recent statement which can be read from the link above and the following are dates where John has mentioned STAG in the statement:
10th October 2013 - JG mentions STAG in Business Questions in the House
4th March 2014 - JG mentions STAG in 90 minuted debate in the House 
9th July 2014 - JG presents a 2000 signature petition to the House
He has continued support us throughout 2014 either by presence or e-mail up to the announcement last Monday.
A campaign such as this, cannot be run for free, tho' all our team members give up their time voluntarily.   As its Founder, I wanted to take the campaign to another level.   With a view to saving further money on flyers - some 6000 having been funded by ourselves.....and I may say, a 2500 return is a pretty good result, along with posters, hi viz jackets and other types of banner......!   I sought the permission of local farmers, to use their fences to attach some large banners for the travelling public to see that there is such a campaign running.   I then scoured the wiltshire.gov.uk website and found out how one goes about raising some cash, £400 or less would be enough for the banners and to carry the campaign on to the next level.....here's what it says:
Funding
If you are a community enthusiast, community or voluntary group or town or parish council looking to fund a community project in Wiltshire during 2013/2014, then you may be eligible for a community area grant.
In the correct manner, an application to Wiltshire Council's Area Board was submitted for consideration at the AAB meeting on 2nd October, when it was duly voted on by the attending Councillors.  It's unfortunate that some of those Councillors saw fit to vote against, providing any money preferring to finance - a Christmas lunch to the tune of £500!!!
They could even be forgiven for thinking.....JOB DONE! following this week's announcement.   Although the Conservative Government have tied things up so that consecutive governments cannot unravel it......we all know that another government getting in next May or for that matter May 2020 the whole thing could still be upended.   Supposing everything goes ahead as this government intends, we still have the activists who are against tunnelling, widening the road and those against the use of  any kind of petrol/diesel motorised vehicle.    This campaign needs to continue as there is much to be done, because the work to dual/tunnel the A303 will be a long time to commencement.

The Pagans & Druids have it.....

So now the comments are pouring into various areas of the media from the Pagan and Druid world - usually in the negative - especially the ones who do not live in the area around Stonehenge but come here to worship - sometimes.   Some of the comment, is in fact quite vociferous in nature, and I thought these folks were supposed to be grounded and calm????.....Poor Ruthie has really gotten wound up over the course of half an hour, posting up on our sister blog 3 times - what was she on we wonder???    Ruthie Moongypsy Wordley:"The bullshit is the mindless morans even thinking bout a tunnel under stonehenge !! have some respect for our heritage, ancestors and magical energy flow of the site, leave it alone !!!   And Ruthie goes on to say: "Yes an ancient Pagan site that has magical energy flow that will be deeply disturbed by a tunnel !! what fxxg idiot even came up with such a stupid idea ??? and further: "Itl be cursed i can tell u that now !!"
However, not all Druids are so closed minded and I would ask you to read a comment from Frank Somers in the Guardian.....Frank is a Druid from Amesbury, much of what he has to say is very relevant http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/02/druid-welcome-tunnel-stonehenge-sensitive
Frank is obviously one Druid who is grounded and calm!!
 

amJGMP/NCDPM/pmPMDC/JGMP!

Re arrange this title into a well known gaggle of politicians...
Answers on a P.C. please to: No10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA!!

Thank you to Faye at Spire FM for her story http://www.spirefm.co.uk/news/local-news/1466031/tunnel-to-be-built-past-stonehenge/  and allowing me to have the last word......

Janice Hassett is from the Stonehenge Traffic Action Group says this is a real drive forward: "The package must be tied up so tightly that no successive Government, be it next May or in 2020, can unravel this. We desperately need this road fixed. If it has to be a tunnel, it has to be a tunnel, but whatever's on the table, we'll have it."

Up with the lark for a Monday morning.....Watch Bustard  and wife are off to Stonehenge Visitor's Centre for the big announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, that the A303 is to be upgraded and proving that all our hard work over the past 30 years and for us - 14 months..... has not been in vein!!
Janice Hassett....i.e. me....Founder of STAG
Stonehenge Traffic Action Group, has to be there for 07.30 with the face all made up and ready for interviews with :
BBC Wiltshire's Ben Prater, Spire FM's Faye, Alex Rennie from Salisbury Journal, BBC Solant and also BBC South Today with Paul Clifton.....thanks to all for the coverage!   Of course we are aware we were not the real reason for your attendance today and it may have had something to do with some photo opportunities for politicians?   Note, in this photo....Ben's way of getting up close and personal during interview....no problem for John Glen MP at his height but a bit disconcerting if you happen to be 4ft 11ins like me. Talk about "in your face"!

Transport Correspondent for BBC South Today Paul Clifton also allowed us some good coverage on the telly, with a view of our message on the back of the Hi Viz Vest's we were wearing...brilliant!
Of course Stonehenge Alliance had also to be interviewed "providing a balanced report"....John Glen having the only extra set of head phones is able to listen to the interview between Ben and Kate Fielding, while the rest of us can't hear a thing......the expression on his face is a picture, at her responses.....rolling of the eyes and the disbelief at what she had to say......suggestions of a longer tunnel adding a further £320m to the cost, road user charge for non local traffic, put a toll on the tunnel to help pay for it, and of course there were the useless facts that today was the anniversary of the Channel Tunnel breaking through!!!

On another planet me thinks...... Here's a comment from one Paul Timlett who has listened to the piece:  

"Ha!  Yes Ben Prater's response was a cracker. His dramatic pause said it all. He then referenced the fact that John was shaking his head. John then got stuck in - great radio."

 

And the response to my challenge that the lads should cycle to Plymouth and back in a day, therefore using our bikes more,as Kate suggested previously:

From Andy Shuttleworth (General Disquiet):  "Much as I like a challenge, that is verging on suicidal.  However, I would encourage Kate Fielding to try - hopefully she would make it over the Wiltshire border before meeting her demise…"

So! that was the morning of 1st December and now for the afternoon......

A visit by no less than :

The PM Himself.....Mr David Cameron!    His entourage of 4 cars, took him straight down the now closed A344 flouting the SUO perhaps??   Well.....he is the Prime Minister - obviously wanted to knock Stonehenge off his bucket list just like the President did in October!

So there we were - the STAG team,  standing about in the freezing cold awaiting his return and all we get is Tilly Flop otherwise known as Fleur de Rhe Philipe from Wiltshire Council and of course, Uncle Simon CE of EH.....usually around for a photo opportunity!

John Glen's secretary, Laura came out to let us know that our hi viz jackets had caused a stir with the PM's security guys and they wanted to arresicate us for instergatering a possible riot......who me? little me!!!!?   We did wonder why the men in suits and wired for sound were getting a bit too close for comfort......

But apparently John Glen MP put them right saying we were on the governement's side in all that went on today.....thank you
johnglenmp.com, you may have saved me from spending time at Her Majesty's pleasure!!!

Anyway, we didn't get to see the PM 'cos he was whisked away

up the A360 and......yes onto the A303 to London!!!

As an extra aside for all those who have negative, uninformed ideas about todays announcement, please take a look at our sister blog: 

http://bypasswinterbournestoke.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/banish-bypass-bullshit.html

We're still collecting signatures on our web page at: www.sh2.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Highways Agency....re: WC in the Fields

My thanks are due to Mr Paul Edwards: NDD SW Growth & Improvement Team Business Manager

for his reply to my previous tongue in cheek posting: "WC In the Fields".....He, being such a busy
person,

we didn't expect a reply and trust it was all taken in the best of humour......So! now all you folks travelling to the West Country and stuck in the queue on the A303 for an hour - or more, from the top of Beacon Hill to Stonehenge Bottom, take note where all the toilets are to be found from Mr Edwards letter.....
and you won't need me to fight your corner for further loos at West Amesbury - because, as you see.....I've done my best!Don't forget to sign our petition at: www.sh2.co.uk many thanks

Campaign for Better Transport - out of touch?

My thanks are due to Tristan Cork e: tristan.cork+Western Daily Press.co.uk for his piece 11th November 2014 on the PM's announcement that the government will outline in the Autumn Statement, what will be done to correct the A303.   Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/A303-plan-desecrate-Stonehenge/story-24508807-detail/story.html#ixzz3Iqfcg3Ba
Follow us: @WesternDaily on Twitter | WesternDaily on Facebook
However, there is one very large "fly in the ointment" in the form of Chris Todd and his Campaign for Better Transport who also have links with Stonehenge Alliance.
Chris, to be fair, certainly has Stonehenge close at his heart, but is yet another "desk in London" and has clearly not had the misfortune to join the end of the gridlock close to the WHS or tried to rat run through our villages to avoid it....this is his take on the announcement to improve the beleaguered A303.....
Chris Todd, roads campaigner at the Campaign for Better Transport, said: “The road building schemes the Government is so keen to talk up will trash protected areas and do nothing for the economy.   “It makes no sense to spend billions ploughing more lanes of traffic through our National Parks or desecrating irreplaceable historic sites like Stonehenge.  “These schemes will make people more dependant than ever on their cars, place greater costs on the NHS, while failing to tackle problems like the massive backlog of pot holes blighting local roads.”
Chris....no disrespect, but you're out of touch mate!  
The four wheeled vehicle, since Henry Ford 1863 - 1947, revolutionised transportation - is here to stay, therefore improvements need to evolve along with our way of life!    Has the Campaign for Better Transport been able to come up with an alternative to opening up the gridlock around Stonehenge, because we'd all very much like to hear about it if they have!  
AA president Edmund King welcomed the announcement, saying: “Roads carry 90% of goods and people and are our biggest transport asset and so it makes perfect sense to upgrade them to help the UK economy by improving journey times for people and business.”
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said: “The Chancellor collects more than £30 billion in road fuel duty and Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) alone but spends just a quarter of this on the road network. If a larger share of this income will now be used to upgrade our highways, which are a vital national asset, then that is welcome.   “This announcement has to be seen against the rapidly-rising population which will cause only more congestion on the roads unless there is significant investment in removing the pinch points.”

Please put the 3rd December into your diary.....

A303 watchers....that date is already in mine, but then I'm a SAD individual, that when matters A303 come up, I want to know about it.  This article came up in today's Western Daily Press from
Graeme Demianyk and whilst it may all be hearsay at this stage, it does look as if we are going to be told on the 3rd December, in the Autumn Statement, what will - if anything be happening to the A303.
The two coalition parties are now
"going it alone" in this announcement, in a bid to gain our votes at next year's general election!   The story goes into print telling us there is expected spending of £1.2 billion for the A303.....even breaking that figure up into 9 parts listing the amount to be spent on each section requiring upgrade.    A Stonehenge underpass is one of 9 proposals being discussed in Whitehall as part of  the latest feasibility study still taking place, which should be completed by the end of November.   There have been a number of meetings over the past year in Taunton - the first of which STAG were to have had a representative in attendance, but
Dr Shuttleworth was put off at the last minute, when we were told we would be kept up to speed by officials attending the meeting......to date, we are not aware that any information has come forth from those in officialdom attending, and we have relied on other sources for updates.
"Jam tomorrow" is the phrase used by Shadow Transport Secretary - Ms Mary Creagh and she accuses the present government of making promises they have no intention of keeping and that they have allowed road spending to drop since they took over in 2010.....The story can be read here:
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Opposition-questions-A303-pledge/story-23876448-detail/story.html    I've got news for her......it was her government under the Transport Secretary of the time, Alistair Darling, that in 2007, cancelled any upgrading of the A303 after spending £46m of tax payers money on feasibility studies.   In the story in WDP on 1st November, Ms Creagh does concede we have a problem of congestion on the A303......and we're gratified to her for keeping us up to speed with this information, because of course, it had gone unnoticed by us locals!!!!    She goes on to say that "congestion is acute at peak times" and when other roads close.....I'm wondering if she's actually boned up on anything to do with our problem on the A303 because if she had, she'd find that those queues are there every weekend from Thursdays through to Monday, 7 days a week throughout the summer and at all school half terms.   I assume the "road closure" she refers to is that of the A344 which, for her information, is permanent......as in SUO.....and in her capacity as Shadow Transport Secretary, I do hope she understands what this acronym means!    Ms Creagh uses the phrase "zero based review" (ZBR) probably an Americanised buzz word that could also mean "zero bug release" to any commitment of spending for the A303 or roads in general.   If we do bring in a Labour government next May, ZBR means they will start again at base one and we shall be back where we were in 1997!
Please keep up the campaign momentum and keep signing our petition at: www.sh2.co.uk
You can also read our sister blog at www.sh2.co.uk Bypass Winterbourne Stoke!

WC in the Fields please, Highways Agency

It's probably true to say, that we at STAG have more experience of the west bound queues on the A303 than anyone else following this blog.    Today, was just like any other public/school holiday when we were yet again, out at our usual pitch at West Amesbury and we have done this for about a year, handing out the flyers and cheering all the occupants of  "stuck" vehicles most of whom are happy to take our flyer and wish us luck for the future of our campaign!    In just over an hour of campaigning, the signatures start pouring into our petition to support us in getting the A303 fixed at the section around Stonehenge, and beyond to Winterbourne Stoke......where.....the first toilet is likely to be available to car passengers who'd planned their journey, taking a certain length of time and didn't stop at Solstice Park.  What they had not planned for, was the queue they must join from the top of Beacon Hill all the way to the single section of carriageway at Stonehenge Bottom - some 4.5miles and today, as per normal, this was taking an hour!!!   This problem arose, when the A344 along side Stonehenge, was closed prior to fixing the A303, and now the A303 cannot accomodate the extra quantity of vehicles - some 6000 per day that normally used the A344, now have no choice, but to use the A303!
The Peeps in their cars, are getting very fed up but usually in good spirit considering they've been stuck for an hour.   However, there are those in the foulest of moods which has the effect of them keeping their windows tightly closed, heads turned away and the driver stepping on the gas to avoid taking the flyer.....just to join the queue some 10 meters ahead....what is the  point?....they can see the break lights!
And to get back to ....... toilet problems - a subject some are reluctant to talk about ....hey! it's normal and it happens!.....before leaving home, one could hook up one of these little trailers with the pink seat.......but maybe not!
Anyway, STAG has a cunning plan, and it's that if we're in this for the long haul, the Highways agency 
could install a set of porta loos on the west bound carriageway  
off the "strawberry layby" where they store their grit.....
with a few more weeds and bushes allowed to get out of control, this would make things quite private in there.

We know it's already being used, because this little fella' was found there this weekend and is missing his mate.....We think Mum or Dad stopped for a "potty stop" and he's been left behind.   He's in good hands until claimed!

They could install one of those mobile signs just before Solstice Park advising of the opportunity to use this service area, saying......

NEXT SERVICE AREA - WINTERBOURNE STOKE - 7 MILES

OR ONE AND A HALF HOURS!!

Our petition can be signed at: www.sh2.co.uk Thanks for taking the time to read this and Highways Agency - take note please!

Press and Media are on to us!

When most people are turning over for another bit of shut eye, or a comfy sit up in bed to read at the Sunday papers, this morning our phone goes off at 0745.   "It's Richard from BBC Wiltshire here,

would you mind if we interviewed you at 0815 to go out live, we would like STAG's opinion about the recent announcement in various newspapers"   Good thing I was already up eh?!

It's all about the story in Saturday's Financial Times here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4cd52aa0-55e1-11e4-93b3-00144feab7de.html#axzz3GbsVJdD0
The Mail on Sunday are running the same story, unfortunately, their pictures are out of date showing the A344 as an OPEN and usable road......clearly they've not been reading either of the STAG blogs, or they would have known that it was closed by
english-heritage.org.uk in June 2013 and the effect the closure has had on local communities.   The stories are basically saying that the Government of today have agreed in principal to fixing the A303 problems tho' further information will be announced by Chancellor George Osborne, in the Autumn Statement which will be about the 3rd of December.  And here's a link to Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg who also wants to push things forward and wants "diggers on the ground" before the next election!!!   I certainly hope that comment carries weight !!

Road tunnel under Stonehenge: Nick Clegg gives his ...

 So! it does appear we have the backing of most of the main government bodies who want something done to alleviate the A303 gridlock - all 110 miles of it.......However, whilst we say at STAG, we're "quietly confident" for the future, we must not forget that we've been here before, and New Labour threw the whole thing out in 2007 on the grounds of expense.....Election next May....so, this latest news has to be a "vote getter" for the present government and Nick Clegg's Lib Dem party too.     Our problems down here, do not of course, have any effect on people north of Wiltshire apart that is, if you've tried to get to the West Country.
Unfortunately, another problem has reared it's ugly head.....in the form of......
The Stonehenge Alliance!   Where have they been for the last year of lobbying I ask, and if they get your way for a 4.5km tunnel, the whole thing announced in recent news papers, could be, yet again, put on the back burner while investigations are carried out, that have been unearthed by them, from 2001!   
S A, lets get some compromise in here somewhere...you've lain dormant for the past 7 years!   And also, Stonehenge Alliance, the topography around Stonehenge has changed immeasurably while you've been asleep in your cosy large properties to the north of the county, where you're not even affected by the A303 problems!!!!   Here's that letter you sent to Patrick McLoughlin on 3rd October, turning all the work we've put in...on its head!












My learned friend who writes the other blog for STAG http://bypasswinterbournestoke.blogspot.com has a "cunning plan" yes! Baldric from Blackadder has put in an appearance.....

"How about suggesting the long tunnel lobby - Stonehenge Alliance - raise funds for anything over and above the 2.9 km that EH and the NT have determined is essential from a heritage point of view and which (hopefully) the present government feel is financially viable.  If they can find the extra 100 metres or 5 km, no one will object.  If they aren't prepared to do this, or even consider it, it rather limits the impact of any argument they might muster".   If Stonehenge Alliance want to lock horns....let the Rut begin!!

I digress......and to get back to my busy day of interviews: BBC Wiltshire also wanted a further interview "out at our usual pitch" at West Amesbury and Janey would turn up at around 1330 because they need to carry the story over to Ben's program tomorrow morning.  Just as we're preparing to leave home, Will from www.bbc.co.uk/pointswest (Bristol) phones to ask if he can use the time out on the A303 for interview

that will go out on this evening's news and hopefully on South Today on Monday.....and one hopes that our Transport correspondent at this end can see his way to airing the interview - conducted by Will - so no conflict of interest Paul!!!   Update: He didn't use it unfortunately, but our own - Cllr Ian West was up there on the telly, beating the drum most of the day!!



A303 Improvements Update

This letter has recently come in from Wiltshire Council's
Ms Fleur de Rhe-Philipe - Cabnet Member for Economic Development, Skills and Strategic Transport - now there's an expensive title and a mouthful to boot!!  
The letter appears to be a summery of a meeting that took place in Taunton on 28th August 2014 and is  the outcome of Stage 2 of the present feasibility study still taking place, the results of which will be announced in the Autumn Statement.  Even although the announcement will be made on the 3rd of December and won't actually feel like Autumn, because by then, we shall already be into our winter woollies, technically it is still Autumn, because winter doesn't actually start until Sunday December 21st!!

At a further, very positive meeting last Tuesday between STAG and The National Trust

it does appear that "everyone" wants something "done about the A303" and this includes a purpose prepared group from www.english-heritage.org.uk, www.wiltshire.police.uk Stakeholders all the way down the corridor, www.wiltshire.gov.uk - tho' they have blatantly failed to acknowledge our existance..... hey ho!   So long as they're getting on with things, while the STAG  team get on with the lobbying bit, I've no problem with that.   There is still much work to be completed on the archeology front and www.nationaltrust.org.uk have appointed a special lady for just this purpose!

So! for us, we're feeling a bit more positive about the whole situation and feel it's looking like things are progressing albeit slowly, be it digger, mole or tunnel !!!

 

A303 - Highway To The Sun!

A book I am drawn to read right now, written in 2012 by Tom Fort, a journalist who worked for the BBC for 22 years.  

Tom was, and possibly still is an expert on the A303 - all 92 miles of it and is probably still affectionate towards it.   I hope he won't mind me showing a couple of pages from the Introduction of the book, written during his research and just talking to people at a service area:
  I wonder if the present A303 is still close to his heart because, as we all know, it has changed beyond all recognition, since he put pen to paper....so to speak, which was prior the closure of the A344 to accommodate the New Visitor's Centre for the WHS.   Unfortunately, the queues are now much longer than he will remember......an hour long would be the norm nowadays to take us from Beacon Hill to Longbarrow roundabout....just 6 miles!    What we would like to know, is why was the Visitor's Centre built just off Airman's Cross putting all 6000 vehicles per day, that would normally traverse the A344.... onto the A303 increasing rat running through local villages!    Why did the planners and architects get things so wrong and why don't they admit they got it wrong?   What does Mr Fort think of the way things have turned out.....especially for local people and the result of rat running, for tourists held up on their way to that Highway To The Sun, and of course there's the effect on the economy, present and future.   Had the New Visitor's Centre been - more intelligently built at Fargo Woods, the A344 could have been a direct route, as it had been, for both, visitors to the Stone Circle and now the new visitor's centre, therefore relieving the now beleaguered A303 and preventing the increase in accidents that have occurred recently, of people slowing down to view or take on the move photos of the Stone Circle.    Oh! Of course, I've just had a lapse of memory....www.english-heritage.org.uk planned it that way because they didn't want anyone to get a free view of the WHS as one could in the days of Mr Fort toing and froing and perhaps even stopping to have a picnic by the Stone Circle - for free.   EH have certainly got their wish, causing chaos around the area in the process. A quickie through the fence didn't harm anyone.   Now it's £13.90 advance booking and 2 hours out of a day! 
I'm even pretty sure, Nicholas Lezard who reviewed Highway To The Sun in the Guardian 14.05.13 just one month before the closure of the A344 will surely be eating his words....: "But the A303 has much history on its side – or to either side. Fort's account of succeeding attempts to explain Stonehenge are worth the detour, and I am inclined to agree with his suggestion that the real reason that nothing has been done about diverting the road away from the stones is not due to the intransigence of the various departments, but down to the fact that, deep down, we kind of like the arrangement of road and monument the way it is"........Well I've got news for you lads....NO WE DON'T.....not now anyway!

EH letting us down again.....continued

And to continue my previous post that www.english-heritage.org.uk still have much work to do, with regard to completing a definitive cycle path between By way 12 and Stonehenge Bottom.  
This is where I post up certain sections of the "Report to the Secretary of State" Stopping up Order or SUO File Ref: DPI/T3915 paras 3.8 to 3.28 all of which relates to what should have been completed to meet the requirement of the aforementioned SUO.......   I draw your attention in particular, to paragraphs 3.11 and 3.12....and from these photos, taken today, showing the lack of progress, it does appear they are certainly dragging their heels on this work.......and one wonders if that sign on my last posting....just might be the reason!

  This 'ere building site, is the underground shop area of the previous visitor's centre just off the A344....what ever they're up to and it may be that it will turn out to be toilet facilities - needed, and a 1st aid room, also needed, at the actual Stone Circle site.....but for this to take a further 11 months after the completion of the new visitor's centre, is anyone's guess.....another building site out of view of the paying public fortunately.

 Work in progress??   supposed to be completed by the opening of  Visitor's Centre - 18th December 2013!!

Remember the A344 - full of weeds now!

 Blades of grass covered in sand has no chance of growing through this blanket of mesh - the gaps are too small with the usual flint of the area.
            













The entrance to the cycling/walking/riding/path still blocked to the public!

                  

And this, my friends, is the surface EH have provided for you to ride your bike.....where nothing will grow but weeds.   It might just be wise to take that extra bicycle tyre as a replacement, because of the amount of flint!!! 

So! why is the work to meet the conditions of the SUO still underway and looking like a building site!?