It was reported last night on the local news here in Wiltshire (Wednesday 20th July), that the Government have scrapped plans for the Stonehenge road tunnel.

According to the Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman, the latest research has revealed that there is now thought to be more chalk under the ground than had previously been thought, this would lead to an increase in the construction costs if the Road tunnel went ahead.

Secondly it is now believe that rising water levels could lead to substantial flooding.

The result of the research is that the projected costs for the tunnel scheme have increased from £283 million pounds to £470 million pounds.

Also scrapped today is the Bypass planned for Winterbourne Stoke, again due to increased costs and the new planned visitors centre has been put on hold.

So the current Government line is that although they support the scheme in principle they feel that £470 million pounds is too much money to spend, so the scheme has been scrapped while the Government look for 'cheaper alternatives'

"A review would take place of all options to see if the tunnel scheme represented the best value for money" (S Ladyman)

Ladyman also stated last night that an increase to £470 million pounds would mean that every householder who pays tax would have too pay an extra £8.00, again too much according to the Government.

So after all this time it has come down to money. The Government feel that Stonehenge and the World Heritage site is not worth spending a great deal of money on. Surely it should be about what's best for preserving Stonehenge and the Heritage site for the future. After all isn't Stonehenge one of the most popular tourist attractions in Britain. If you ask most people who holiday in Britain, where they are going then most would say Stonehenge. If Stonhenge were elsewhere in Europe say France or Germany, there Governments would realise the importance of the site not just for the tourist economy, and they would I'm sure be prepared to spend the money to ensure it is displayed and preserved in the best possible way to ensure it survives for future generations to enjoy.

If they want protests and unrest then the Government are going the right way about it. People will not stand for any 'cheaper alternative', nothing but best scheme should be planned for Stonehenge and the World Heritage site no matter what the cost.

The Government talk about the unwillingness to spend more money, what about the thousands already spend on getting to
this point. There is the money spent drafting up the tunnel scheme in the first place, the lengthily public inquiry at the Guildhall last year in Salisbury. All now money poured down the drain it seams, and we are now back to square one arguing over what scheme is best!

Britain it seems at present have there priorities wrong. The Government are prepared to spend million on taking the Country to War in Iraq and they can't spare a few million pounds on Stonehenge.

So I ask you this what do you feel is a worthwhile way to spend Britain's Money. foreign policy i.e.. Iraq, or preserving Britain's heritage so that it can be enjoyed by future generations for many years to come. After all isn't Stonehenge one of the best prehistoric stone monuments in Britain if not the world! The Government don't think so, perhaps to them Stonehenge is nothing more than a pile of old stones!

So will we ever get the Stonehenge we deserve, at the present it seems highly unlikely!!!!

Richard Hayward

Salisbury