They are a disparate bunch. Archaeologists, environmentalists, historians, transport experts, countryside campaigners and druids.
But they will come together in the Strand in central London on Tuesday with a common purpose: to stop the bulldozers from, in their mind, wreaking havoc at one of the UK’s most iconic sites.
They will try to convince the high court over three days that the government’s plan to build a two-mile road tunnel close to the great circle of Stonehenge will permanently disfigure a unique and globally important landscape.
“It’s David and Goliath stuff,” said John Adams, the chair of the Stonehenge Alliance, which has fought against the tunnel and other road projects around the stones for more than 20 years. Though lots of disciplines are represented, they lack the heft of the government machine. “We’re up against the might of the Department for Transport, National Highways and so on. We’re a small organisation – mostly retired people. But the court case is critical. It’s the only thing keeping the earth diggers away,” he said.
Yeah sorry mate, your planet needs to go, we need to make way for a hyperspace bypass.
Have you read the plans? Have you visited Stonehenge? Have you driven along the road?
This will be a genuine improvement for everyone as far as I can see.
So one of the complaints seems to be… that you won’t be able to see it from the road anymore, suggesting that the tunnel entrances will be out of sight of the monument. I haven’t seen arguments that it’ll disrupt the stability of the site or anything else either, so from the limited info I have, the complaints sound quite spurious.
Wtf this is the the actual Stonehenge?
I thought the government would be protective of that because it brings in tourists?You have to remember that the British government does not have any competent people left. They’re down to the dregs, in it for ego or self-enrichment, not any real attempt to govern well.
It’s worse than that. “Conservatives” enjoy destruction. If being conservative meant anything at all, conserving a site like Stonehenge would be a no-brainer. But no. They like to fuck up everything and then screech about how they’re being victimised.
If they dig under it, then there is very little effect and it gets rid of the busy, noisy and slow main road that goes right by it.
I’m getting downvoted - what damage are you worried about?
It’s an archaeologically rich site that is still being explored:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/news/2020/dec/stonehenge-tunnel-splits-archaeological-opinion
Opponents contend that the tunnel project may irreparably damage an ancient landscape that is only beginning to be understood and is still full of surprises. Last June the discovery of 20 deep shafts arranged in an enormous circle nearby the site forced the government to delay the decision on the project for another four months while the find could be assessed.
And there are concerns about environmental impact:
“National Highways admit the scheme would increase carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes over its lifetime at a time when we need to rapidly reduce emissions.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/14/stonehenge-road-tunnel-project-environmental-impact/
If they can remove the overground road there is that not an improvement? It’s not like this area is pristine, there are towns there, a military base etc. this will improve the area immediately around Stonehenge.
If they are spending money on archeology in the area and discovering new things, that’s great. It means the entrance/exit are less likely to damage anything.
On the environment - that’s less of an issue if we can electrify vehicles properly, it’s a busy road because people and freight (lots of warheouses in Aimesbury) use it. We have unfortunately proved that we can’t build railways either so there isn’t much choice.