Re: A303 to go into a tunnel eventually? | Forum

T

tomwatts Sep 27, 2013 07:06:53

Replying to nix

http://www.sarsen.org/2013/09/unfenced-heel-stone.html

Well done to Tim Daw for grabbing the pics........ I'm a bit surprised that people can walk around the place, which is at the moment a building site...

L

Littlestone Sep 27, 2013 08:58:00

Replying to nix

nix wrote:

Just thought I'd say that although I sympathise with that point of view, it isn't a distraction for me - well, not compared with the huge cost and impact of such a tunnel. We live in the modern world too and the closure of the road adjacent is such an improvement that I think it enough. I quite like the contrast between the two for many sites actually!

Hi nix

Yes, I appreciate your point of view as well – I was just pleasantly surprised at the news that the tunnel hasn’t been totally ditched but accept that there are pros and cons for the idea. Last time I was at Stonehenge it was the traffic noise that I found most distracting, but maybe the wind was blowing from that direction on the day. The sight of moving traffic actually is not such a problem as it appears quite a long way away.

Another bit of news that might be of interest is that -

“Devizes Passengers is urging people to use a new shoppers’ service between Devizes and Salisbury. The A360 will be run commercially by Hatts Coaches and stops at Potterne, West Lavington, Tilshead and Shrewton. It leaves Devizes Market Place at 9.25am, arriving in Salisbury just after 10am, and returns from Salisbury at 1.50pm, arriving in Devizes at 2.40pm, Monday to Friday.

“Jasper Selwyn, chairman of Devizes Passengers, said: “If the service is successful it could expand to an hourly frequency serving the new Stonehenge Visitor centre when it opens at the end of this year. This would make it easy for tourists to come from Stonehenge to Devizes, visit the Wiltshire [Heritage] Museum and then continue to Avebury on the number 49 bus.”

N

nigelswift Sep 30, 2013 08:22:53

Replying to nix

nix wrote:

We live in the modern world too and the closure of the road adjacent is such an improvement that I think it enough.

Indeed it is if the wrong sort of tunnel is being contemplated. There are tunnels and tunnels...
http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/a-tunnel-a-tunnel/

S

Sanctuary Sep 30, 2013 09:36:52

Replying to nix

nix wrote:

Littlestone wrote:

Of course we’ve heard it all before but is this a sign that Stonehenge will one day get the (isolated) ambiance it so richly deserves - here’s hoping. Meanwhile, the noise-reduction coating to the A303 is good news as that (the traffic noise) really was a distraction to anyone who just wanted to sit on the grass and contemplate the monument.

Hi Littlestone.

Just thought I'd say that although I sympathise with that point of view, it isn't a distraction for me - well, not compared with the huge cost and impact of such a tunnel. We live in the modern world too and the closure of the road adjacent is such an improvement that I think it enough. I quite like the contrast between the two for many sites actually!

very best

N

I'm sat on the fence somewhat with this. Stonehenge is an ancient monument which has survived into modern times and without a doubt has become an iconic sight as one drives past on the A303 so for that reason I would leave it as it is although I fully understand LS's preferred isolation of it. My biggest objection would be the cost of a tunnel. I think Stonehenge has had enough money thrown at it and would rather like to see it spent on maintaining and researching many of our other ancient sites which year by year are slowly returning to nature because many are out of the public gaze.
Even with all the money spent on it, Stonehenge still seems to be as big a mystery as it ever was with a new idea one week then being dismissed the next and replaced by yet another and further reasons to raise more cash. When does it end?