Thurley promised that the fight is not over. "This is definitively not it. The absolutely crucial thing is to close the A303, and English Heritage will continue to argue this with all its strength. It is absolutely imperative that the road goes, and the stones are returned to the tranquillity of the chalk downland in which it was built."

What tranquillity? Millions of visitors being herded around denying you the opportunity of sitting down quietly and taking everything in and even taking a photo without complete strangers appearing in the background! Of course the removing of the road will then prevent drivers and their passengers from viewing the stones for free as they drive by and in my opinion one of the best views, as is the view from the hill. Is that not the main reason it is 'imperative' the road must be removed and nothing to do with tranquillity. How lucky I was as a young man to walk freely amongst the stones and not hurried along so that the next coachload of tourists could be ushered in. The best way to preserve the tranquillity of Stonehenge is to do away with visitor centres, car parks and roads and if people want to see the stones, then get off their arses and WALK there across actual grass.. So few would make the trip other than those who have a REAL interest that it would once again be a joy to visit. The chances of that happening?..zero... the cash cow is here to stay!

If English Heritage does read TMA congratulations to them on this bit in Maev Kennedy’s article, "This is a completely reversible building – if it's ever necessary, it can all be taken up and taken away, leaving the site to revert to the chalk of Salisbury Plain." (reversibility being one of the cornerstones of conservation).

Though on a slight note of disappointment, this bit, “The visitors will then clamber into a less gaudy cousin of those land trains that trundle along many seafronts, three small wagons towed by a Land Rover, and be driven the 1.5 miles to the stones along the old A344, which will be closed to all other traffic.”

Perhaps electric vehicles aren't strong enough to tow three wagons at present but maybe they could replace the Land Rovers in the future.

Edit: Artist’s impression of the Land Rover and carriages here.