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Sunday 31 August 2014

It is with regret.....

that we have to report the death of a pedestrian killed in the vicinity of Stonehenge Bottom on the A303.  He died from his injuries in Southampton Hospital.   Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.
The accident is reported here: www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/11442473.pedestrian
We don't yet know all the circumstances, but at around 8:45pm on Friday evening, 37 year old Patrick Sturtivant from the Gwent area of Wales, was struck by a west-bound Mercedes 300 driven by a 28 year old London man.  The road was closed until after midnight.
Anyone who saw the accident is asked to call Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

We have since found out that the deceased was a taxi driver taking American guests around the area.   His guests were allowed to alight from the taxi with the assistance of the driver on the single section of A303.   They then crossed the A303 to take photos of the monument, returning to their vehicle but unfortunately the taxi driver didn't make it back.....it was dark and the driver of the Mercedes would not have been able to see them on the road.  
We think it is time some sort of BERM were installed to prevent the taking of these photos from the A303 adjacent to the Stone Circle.

Saturday 30 August 2014

Home in time to prepare the kids for school?.....

It's Saturday 30th August and it appears folks would rather sit in the queue on the A303 at Stonehenge Bottom.....they've obviously grown quite fond of our queue.   It certainly doesn't appear that its going to stop any time soon - especially from these photos taken today......you might have thought folks would be heading home to get the washing & the ironing done and get the kids ready for school, but not so.....West bound A303 still nose to tail most of the day......however!.....this time, not due to volume of traffic, just sheer bad road planning by the funnelling down at Stonehenge Bottom and the closure of the A344 past Stonehenge before fixing the A303.......we know this because the queue didn't start till half way up the dual carriageway toward West Amesbury.......and who's the guy waving the placard??.....why it's Watch Bustard in plain clothes of course!!!






 If you, like us, want the A303 fixed in this area, please sign our petition at: www.sh2.co.uk


Sunday 31st August and.....yes! the east bound A303 is clogged from Longbarrow all the way to Countess and all in bad mood because they left it too late!!   Even worse for those drivers who decided to take their usual rat run - off at Winterbourne Stoke to avoid the queues.   Just as they've left the A303 and making progress up the B3083 toward Shrewton.....what do they come across but......a traction engine - a bit like this one really.....
 coming from The Dorset Steam Fair:

All the ingredients for a very angry driver.....who wished they would "do" something about the A303!



Sunday 24 August 2014

The Menu.....STAG's 1st birthday celebration meal!

Well folks, I cannot believe a year has past since I took the.....perhaps naive decision to try and "do" something about the problems on the A303 around Stonehenge and rat running through our village.....but yes! STAG celebrated its first birthday last Friday - where else, but out on the A303 as usual handing out flyers!....It's what we do!    The usual S.N.A.S.U - situation normal another snarl up!   Out again on Saturday morning to be interviewed by Jonathan Fido of BBC Wiltshire Radio to the much amusement of those actually sitting in the queue and listening to me on their car radio!

For a few weeks tho', we at STAG Head Quarters, have been planning a celebratory meal - of 7 courses no less.....that's if you count the coffee 'n mints!! and we thought you'd like to see our rather tongue in cheek menu for the evening.....with a very good attempt by Watch Bustard at producing the Stone Circle Pomme Frites.....


And it would be appropriate for each guest to have their own personal place card:





 
My thanks to both Ian and Paul for checking that we had 303 carrots and 344 green beans cut short....as per the menu!   
For the pud....we had our own version of a catalytic converter in the form of liqueur de fraises de bois, for the aforementioned strawberries helped of course, by the "sloe" tail back taster - sloes picked last autumn from a secret location in Shrewton!!
We had a selection of Wiltshire cheeses including Wiltshire Loaf, Miss Muffet, & Black Sticks Blue all purchased locally from:

all of which were well received; but we elected to forgo  the E H Muckle Truckle as the tasting notes said "hard on the outside but crumbly and rotten to the core"!


 
Sadly, three of our team fell ill - not from our food I hasten to add, so couldn't attend the fun evening.....we wish them all a speedy recovery and back in the STAG saddle soon as!
 
If you like us, want something done to fix the A303 around Stonehenge, please sign our petition at:
www.sh2.co.uk and like us on Facebook too!