I have returned tonight from a major exhibition, (highlighting the A303 Stonehenge improvement plans), put on by the Highway Agency at the Antrobus Arms Hotel in Amesbury.

Having seen the exhibtion and having just read a copy of the published plans which i picked up this evening I have to say that they English Heritage, the Highways Agency etc.. have got it wrong.

I am totaly against the idea of a short 2.1 km tunnel because there will still be a large part of the World Heritage Site on either side of the tunnel that will still have a visible road going through it.

If a tunnel is to be the prefered choice then please lets have a longer tunnel that stretches the whole length of the World Heritage Site from the roundabout at Longbarrow crossroads to the countess roundabout.

The main Government objective according to the rleaflet I have just read tonight "is the removal of busy roads and other 20th century clutter from sight of Stonehenge" surely the A303 Stonehenge improvement plan should not just be about Stonehenge but about the World Heritage Site as a whole.

A tunnel encompassing the whole site would mean that all and not just part of the World Heritage Site would be returned to its natural landscape setting. I do not like the idea that one will still see the busy A303 from certain parts of the landscape with in the World Heritage Site.

Have they really thought these plans through. I think not. I feel the only reason a shorter tunnel is prefered is because a shorter tunnel will cost less to build and will therefore cost the Government less money. The improvement plans should not be dicidede on the basis of money. the cost should be an issue. If a longer tunnel cost more so be it surely all that matters is whats best for Stonehenge and the World Heritage Site, no matter what the costs are.

My only concern regarding the building of a tunnel, is whether there will be much destruction of archaeological deposits when it is contructed and whether vibration caused as a result of traffic moving through the tunnel, will resuld in archaeological depots in the imidiate vercinity being destroyed for example and surviving human or animal bones.

I am aslo against the plans for the roundabout scheme at the Longbarrow junction. As one person being interviewed pointed out on BBC South Todayt tonight, not only will the roundabout plans result in
the destruction of a "Bronze Age settlement, but also damage to one of the most environmentaly sesitive areas in the surrounding Stonehenge Landscape."

Those that object to these plans include CPRE, Friends of the Earth, Transport 2000 and the Pagan federation.

Stonehenge is a 'global icon' which many through out the world recognise as one of the most important Prehistiric monuments in Britain.
Surely it deserves better than the management plan that has so be drawn up. If we are going to carry out the A303 Stonehenge improvement plan then lets have a plan that is right and acceptable by all ana a plan that will ensure the enjoyment and preservation of Stonehenge for many future generations.

I for one will certainly be writing a letter of Objection regarding these recently published plans, and I hope other who feel the same way will also do the same.

Objection letters to these plans should be sent by 4th of September 2003 to the following address

The Stonehenge Project
Highways Agency
Zone 2/05 - K
Temple Quay House
2 The Square Bristol
BS1 6HA

The more people that write in the better and a greater chance we have of Getting the Highways Agency and the Government ot change there mind.

As it was stated on the local news tonight

" The strength of opposition makes a publiuc inquiry almost a certainty"

Richard Hayward

Salisbury

PS Public exhibition on the plans Friday 13th 10 am til 8pm and saturday 15 June 10am til 5pm
at the Antrobus Arms Hotel Amesbury

Perhaps some Channel 4 reality TV show could pay to paint their logo on the stones (flourescent paint so it's visinle at night too). Or even get some of the stones repositioned to form the classic Channel 4 logo.

That would raise some money and it could all be put back roughly where it was at a later date. And the paint would wear off. Eventually.