Glimpsing Stonehenge

sir – Philip Johnston is right (“The awe inspired by Stonehenge is equalled only by the tunnel cost”, Comment, September 13). Travelling westwards on the A303 and catching sight of Stonehenge is truly thrilling.

That particular section of road could be retained as the westbound carriageway of the A303. What is needed is a new eastbound carriageway.

The eastbound carriageway could be as far as three or four miles away, either to the north or to the south.

Such a scheme would cost far less than building a tunnel. Harvey Griffiths

Fareham, Hampshire

sir – Mr Johnston thinks that daily travellers on the A303 past Stonehenge should “put up with a bit of inconvenience” for the sake of preserving the site.

While he may use the route from time to time, and enjoy free views of the stones, the road’s congestion ranges from horrendous to hellish. Finding a solution to ease this and avoid rat-running through nearby villages, while preserving as much of the landscape as possible, is paramount.

Unesco’s alternative to the proposed road tunnel is a route well south of the site. This would leave a far more damaging footprint and take motorists miles out of their way.

Any road scheme in an area of great historic value and outstanding natural beauty will be controversial. The route Highways England has put on the table addresses the most serious concerns raised during the consultation period. Carolyn Macdougall

Campaign for the Preservation of the Southern Till Valley Berwick St James, Wiltshire

sir – In the late Forties, my father and I used to make an annual pilgrimage to Stonehenge. We caught the bus to Amesbury and then walked to the site.

It was rare to see more than four or five people on our visits; sometimes we were alone. How times have changed. Geoffrey Moody

Harrietsham, Kent