'Solution needed' after Stonehenge tunnel scrapped

Residents of traffic-blighted villages near the A303 have said an alternative was needed after construction of a tunnel close to Stonehenge was cancelled.

Planning permission for the two-mile (3.2km) underpass next to the world heritage site was officially revoked in March despite millions of pounds already having been spent on it.

Paul McKernan, a parish councillor in nearby Shrewton, said a "national solution" to a problem that "hasn't gone away" was still needed.

Wiltshire Council said it was pressing the government for a "viable alternative" while the Department for Transport (DfT) said it was committed to "projects that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth".

McKernan said local parish councils were working together to keep the problem "in the public eye".

He said: "If we had the voices of the 30,000 or so motorists a day who go past Stonehenge we would have a much louder voice about what a terrible situation this is."

Many people living nearby said they believed a tunnel was still the most appropriate option because of traffic congestion on surrounding village roads when the A303 is blocked.

The issue has sparked ongoing safety concerns.

Winterbourne Stoke Parish Council chairman Peter Smith said traffic on the A303 had "soared".

He said: "When the congestion builds up... the traffic capacity of the road is doubled."

Smith also said the "level of rat running" in the nearby village of Winterbourne Stoke was "appalling".

He said: "We can't have trucks doing 40mph along a village high street. It's just ridiculous and no longer sustainable."

National Highways said, on average, 26,000 vehicles use this stretch of the A303 every day, increasing to more than 30,000 in August.

The £2bn Stonehenge tunnel project was approved by the then Conservative government in 2023 to combat traffic congestion on the A303.

It was then scrapped in 2024 by Labour after a spending review, having already had nearly £180m spent on its development.

Despite this, the scheme still had official planning permission.

But in March this year, the government revoked permission altogether meaning that if it were ever revived, a plan for the highway would need to start from scratch.

At the time, Wiltshire Council described the move as "completely unacceptable".

There has been decades of debate over the proposed dual tunnel under the world heritage site.

Councils in the region said it would help the economy though UN cultural body Unesco previously urged the government to alter the plans, citing concerns around the ancient monument's heritage.

Campaigners from Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) managed to get the plans delayed through the high court but were not successful in their last attempt.

Taking away planning permission has been a huge blow for small villages still struggling with traffic congestion when something goes wrong on the A303.

"It's a final insult…we are back to square one," said McKernan.

There is further frustration that no official alternative has been suggested.

Councillor Martin Smith, cabinet member for Wiltshire's Highways, said: "We are pressing both the Department for Transport and National Highways to bring forward a viable alternative that reduces congestion and tackles inappropriate rat-running.

"We are calling on the government to engage in meaningful discussions with us, set out clear options and timescales and help deliver solutions."

A DfT spokesperson said: "We are providing nearly £5bn in this year alone on our motorways and key A-roads to support maintenance, enhancement and ensure smoother journeys."

A spokesperson for National Highways said it had worked with the Department for Transport to "ensure the A303 Stonehenge scheme is brought to a close".

The spokesperson said: "In the meantime, we remain committed to the maintenance and safety of our road network, whilst providing value for money to taxpayers."

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