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Stonehenge centre plans unveiledNot much to add that hasn't already been said but here it is anyway: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8302561.stm Proposals for a new £25m visitor centre at Stonehenge have been unveiled by English Heritage. Plans for the centre, at Airman's Corner to the west of the stones, have been submitted to Wiltshire Council. English Heritage, which hopes for some National Lottery funding, also wants to close the A344, which runs just yards away from the landmark. The new centre would not be visible from the stones, but would be linked using a transit system for visitors. The plans are "sensitive to its surroundings and to the significance of the monument", English Heritage says. In May, the government gave the charity's proposals the "go-ahead in principle". They are dependent both on planning permission being granted and funding being found. English Heritage hope that some of the cash will come from National Lottery money. Exhibitions, a cafe, shop and toilets will be housed in a pair of single-storey areas, one glass and the other timber-enclosed, which would sit beneath an undulating roof. A four-trailer transport system, similar to that used in the Eden Project in Cornwall, would ferry visitors from the centre to the stones. The charity's Loraine Knowles, said: "The new centre is designed to blend into the World Heritage landscape which visitors will pass through on their way to the stones." If approved, work on the centre would begin in 2011. The A344 and the nearby A303 road have been blamed for degrading the environment around Stonehenge. In 2007, the government scrapped plans to build a tunnel for the A303 as it passed the area. |
Posted by scubi6312th October 2009ce |
Comments (6) |
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It's also mentioned here scubi - http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/stonehenge-architects-design-for-new-visitor-centre/ It verges on the achievable but might equally end up as a blotch - depends on the materials they use, colour, exact location, tree cover (if any) etc. Best bit was when Stephen Quinlan, the director of architects’ Denton Corker Marshall said, "If once back at home, a visitor can remember their visit to the stones but can’t remember the visitor centre they passed through on the way, we will be happy." |
Posted by Littlestone12th October 2009ce |
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I am not sure whether that would be a good thing or not. If you can't remember the VC then whats the point in having one in the first place .....other than for removing hard cash from our mits. I quite liked "A four-trailer transport system, similar to that used in the Eden Project in Cornwall, would ferry visitors from the centre to the stones." The word 'similar' makes me think of those farm trailers you often get at very large country shows for transporting people to and from the car park...normally be a loud and smelly tractor!!!! |
Posted by scubi63 12th October 2009ce |
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Or it could be like at Newgrange, where a mini bus takes you from the VC to Nowth and Newgrange (but not Dowth.) Though theres so much more to see there, so it might be a bit over the top for Stonehenge. What ever happens it'll never please everyone. Is it a good thing for Stonehenge to be so highly visited ? why not redirect there attention elsewhere " Stonehenge ? no mate never heard of it, is it anywhere near Avebury? |
Posted by postman12th October 2009ce |
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What's the odds this never happens, however? Funding withdrawn at the last minute. I seem to recall all this being mentioned 10 years ago? |
Posted by GLADMAN12th October 2009ce |
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"What's the odds this never happens, however? Funding withdrawn at the last minute." Interestingly, English Heritage told the Architects' Journal, "...that it had factored in the possibility of a public enquiry into its timescale but still hopes the centre will be open in time for London’s Olympic Games in 2012." Is this the first public acknowledgement that the centre might not be ready for the Games? Meanwhile, Heritage Action has come up with an alternative design for a new Visitor Centre if all else fails ;-) http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/heritage-action-announces-its-new-design-for-stonehenge-visitor-centre/ |
Posted by Littlestone 13th October 2009ce |
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Like it. I'm sure the Americans will think it's 'very quaint' before realising they can't get a burger! What kind of a goddam joint are you running here, anyhow? |
Posted by GLADMAN 13th October 2009ce |
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