Despite opposition from heritage groups, plans for the construction of a controversial tunnel near Stonehenge have been officially approved, as reported by the BBC.
The tunnel is part of a larger road redevelopment project aimed at reducing traffic congestion near the iconic archaeological site and boosting tourism. The estimated cost of the plan is £1.7 billion ($2.25 billion), which involves a complete overhaul of the road connecting London to South West England.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper granted approval for the project over the weekend after years of delays. However, archaeologists and concerned heritage groups have long expressed their opposition to the plan, fearing that the tunnel could destroy yet-to-be-excavated portions of the Stonehenge site, which continues to yield new artifacts. In 2021, UNESCO issued a warning that Stonehenge would be added to the World Heritage in Danger list if the tunnel were to be constructed. The report highlighted the need for significant changes to the infrastructure project in order to preserve the site’s “Outstanding Universal Value,” particularly its integrity.
The Stonehenge Alliance, a coalition of environmental, archaeological, and heritage groups, has been at the forefront of resistance against the tunnel project. They have organized petitions and pursued legal challenges that led to delays in the approval of the scheme.
In a press release, the Stonehenge Alliance expressed their dismay at the decision to proceed with the tunnel construction. They criticized the Conservative government for allocating over £2 billion to a road development project that they consider detrimental to Britain’s most significant and sacred prehistoric landscape. The Alliance stated, “The decision of Mark Harper to greenlight the building of a tunnel through a stretch of the World Heritage Site that surrounds Stonehenge is as inexplicable as it is disgraceful. Certainly, no one can be in any doubt that the scheme will inflict ‘permanent, irreversible harm’ on a landscape that is the supreme icon of British archaeology.”
The Stonehenge Alliance is currently raising funds to seek legal counsel and explore the possibility of suing the government once again in an effort to delay or halt the project.
The approval of the tunnel near Stonehenge has sparked intense debate between those advocating for improved infrastructure and reduced congestion and those concerned about the potential irreversible impact on the archaeological site’s integrity and cultural significance. The future of the project remains contentious, with heritage groups continuing to push for alternative solutions that would safeguard Stonehenge and its surrounding landscape.