Stonehenge, the iconic prehistoric monument in England, was first legally protected by Parliament in 1882. The 19th-century legislation was the first time in the country that any structure was protected. considered historically important enough are protected. Currently, British government wants to build a tunnel near Stonehenge despite the harm government experts believe the project will cause to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The A303, the road that runs through Stonehenge, has long been congested for dozens of miles during the summer holidays. Its proximity to the monument partly causes congestion, but more significantly, the A303 is an important route between London and South West England. BBC reports that the UK’s Department for Transport has approved a two-mile tunnel to keep traffic out of sight of Stonehenge, reduce congestion and shorten travel times.
The plan sounds simple, but building anything around a 5000-year-old archaeological site can be devastating. Transport Minister Grant Shapps originally approved planning in 2020 without the recommendation of the Government’s Planning Inspector. According to the BBC, the agency claims the tunnel will cause “permanent, irreversible damage” to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to a local, community-sponsored campaign, court ruling in 2021 argued that Shape’s decision was illegal and could freeze the progress of the project.
In this new approval, current Transport Secretary Mark Harper acknowledged: “Developing cultural heritage and historic environments will cause harm.” The project seems absurd. Will adding two more lanes solve traffic? Sure is not. Is it worth destroying one of the most historically significant places on the planet? Certainly not.
