So Stonehenge Alliance (SHA) have written an "Open Letter" to the PM.....it could be classed as bedtime reading and for the insomniacs among us, it will sort out your problem..... here: https://stonehengealliance.org.uk/alliance-asks-prime-minister-to-abandon-scheme/
"Alliance asks Prime Minister to abandon scheme
The Stonehenge Alliance has written an open letter to the Prime Minister, asking for dualling of the A303 through Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS) to be abandoned. This follows the Government’s decision not to appeal against the High Court judgment quashing development consent for the scheme.
The letter highlights: that the world has changed since the project was first conceived. UNESCO, which has consistently expressed its concern with National Highways’ (formerly Highways England) proposals for the road, warned in July after the Transport Secretary had approved the scheme that the WHS could be placed on the World Heritage in Danger List if the scheme went ahead unaltered. This came after the five senior planning inspectors who examined the scheme in 2019 recommended it be refused....this is nonsense of course....the wording on "Summery of Recommendation" TRO10025 dated 2 January 2020 was that the Secretary of State should "withhold consent"....not "refuse" The SHA go on to say that "Past Transport Ministers, both Conservative and Labour, also came out against the scheme, even Grant Shapps accepted it would cause significant harm." This too is nonsense! The scheme was junked by Labour in 2007 on grounds of unaffordability and Grant Shapps accepted there could be "some damage to parts of the WHS".
The letter continues: "highlighting the feeble economic case for the road, its huge price tag, and the large amount of carbon emissions it would generate which they consider are all good reasons not to proceed".....more nonsense! Vehicles on the move, create less carbon than those stuck in that queue on the A303 with engines running and not going anywhere!
The Alliance is suggesting a new approach. Instead of rehashing the same damaging scheme, it is asking the Government to think again. It wants to see a full and open assessment of alternatives to the road, thoroughly explored in the context of safeguarding and enhancing the WHS, reducing road traffic and road emissions, and providing real alternatives to the car.....
So! they want to recommence all those consultations, deliberations, and powwows that have already taken place over decades, at a cost to the paying public of around £53 million...
Where were you back then Stonehenge Alliance.....when all avenues were visited and deliberated on?....and now you want it all to start over again, putting us into Never Never Land, just because you weren't even in the frame back then!!
You continually talk about "getting cars off the roads" "that the government should be thinking of alternative ways to deal with the problem" So what are your ideas then??? How are goods and freight to reach the West Country..... ah! of course....the train! how are families with all their kit to reach the West Country for their well earned holiday....ah! of course....the train! and all of this could happen next Thursday!!?😂 How long will it take to improve the rail link which would involve cutting huge swathes from land and countryside, not to mention the compulsory purchase of property and villages! I've yet to see a train that could take on the necessary gradient that would be required "to upgrade our rail system" .....Nope! the car I'm afraid is with us for some time to come!! Get real SHA!
"Govt pledges continued commitment to Stonehenge scheme, despite cuts
29/10/2021
Dominic Browne
The transport secretary is still committed to the £1.9bn Stonehenge Tunnel scheme and plans to 'redetermine' its planning application, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said, despite the Treasury appearing to cut its funding.
The latest Spending Round left National Highways facing a £3.4bn funding cut for this Road Investment Strategy period (2020-2025), while the Budget made no mention of the Stonehenge scheme.
Government officials suggested the funding cut was because of delays to major schemes like Stonehenge and the Lower Thames Crossing, with the cash being carried over to later spending periods.
A DfT spokesperson said: 'The A303 at Stonehenge has not been cancelled. The secretary of state will now redetermine the application, and as a live planning case, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
'The Government is still spending £27bn on major roads schemes, just over a slightly longer period as a result of delays to some major schemes, including Stonehenge.'
Last year the Government announced £27.4bn for the National Highways over 2020-2025 but this was cut to £24bn in this week's Budget.
The reduction takes into account the impact of the delay to a number of schemes in the RIS including Lower Thames Crossing and A303 Stonehenge, both of which have faced planning issues.
Together these schemes account for the majority of the funding moving from RIS2 to RIS3, Highways has been told.
The funding for these schemes is still in place, the DfT said; however, officials could not give a precise split of which monies were being moved forward and when.
Vanessa Howlison, chief financial officer at National Highways, said: 'We welcome the renewed commitment shown by the Government towards our ambitious five-year road investment strategy. Revisions to headline funding levels for the period largely reflect external issues including changes to the timeline for some projects."
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