We need compromise on Stonehenge tunnel

THE Secretary of State for Transport has approved the “A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down Road Scheme”, which includes a tunnel at Stonehenge and a Winterbourne Stoke bypass. His approval is against the advice of the Independent Planning Inspectorate Panel, appointed by the government to check the details of the scheme.

As a local resident and lifetime campaigner for the A303 duelling and Winterbourne Stoke bypass, I am not in favour of this approach.

The scheme is designed with one thing in mind. The disposal of 1.25 million cubic metres of mostly contaminated wet chalk that will be extracted from the tunnel, treated at a special plant before being transported and dumped in and around our beautiful village.

To accommodate the spoil, the proposed road over the River Till will be in an excessively high position, which will create a major noise problem for the village. Let us hope the proposed legal challenge to the decision is successful.

To resolve this, all interested parties should be prepared to compromise. Why not dual the A303 on its present line, dropping it into a landscaped cutting deep enough to lose sight of the stones from the A303? This will allow the ancient right-of-way to pass over the road, allowing visitors a view of the ancient barrows, unhindered by the sight and noise of traffic. This would also allow the Winterbourne Stoke bypass to be constructed as approved in 2004. It would also be the quickest and cheapest way of relieving the traffic besieged village of Shrewton, which has suffered so badly since Wiltshire Council prematurely closed the A344.

I know this approach would not find support at a national level, but the needs of local people should be considered. Could we not hold a local referendum to prove the strength of support behind this idea?

Ian West Winterbourne Stoke, Wiltshire