The billion-pound scheme might have improved visitors on “one of many area’s most important transport corridors”.
The scheme might have stopped ‘congestion and rat racing’ close to the World Heritage Web site (Picture: PA)
Labour has been slammed for “throwing away a as soon as in a era alternative” to enhance a “important” UK transport hall. The Authorities formally revoked a improvement consent order (DCO) for the Stonehenge Tunnel scheme on Thursday. Plans to improve a stretch of the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down in Wiltshire have been authorised by the earlier Conservative Authorities, earlier than Labour signalled plans to scrap the £1.7 billion scheme final autumn. The Division for Transport (DfT) stated “distinctive circumstances” together with “the difficult monetary image we inherited” had made it “acceptable” to revoke the planning permission.
This was regardless of native hopes that the venture, which comprised a tunnel, two junctions and a northern bypass, would scale back congestion on the important thing south-west England A-road. Caroline Nokes, Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton, described the choice as “disappointing”. She advised the Salisbury Journal: “The A303 stays the gateway to the West Nation, and an essential strategic route going previous the world’s most well-known prehistoric monument is just not a great mixture.”
The scheme was initially authorised by the Conservatives earlier than being axed by Labour (Picture: Western Every day Press)
Ian Thorne, Liberal Democrat chief of Wiltshire Council, additionally criticised Labour’s abandonment of the scheme final yr, warning that the implications can be “far-reaching”.
“Revoking the DCO for the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel is totally unacceptable, not least as a result of the Authorities has completed nothing to facilitate an early dialogue on another answer,” he stated.
“This proposal disregards years of planning, session and funding, and throws away a once-in-a-generation alternative to enhance one of many area’s most important transport corridors.”
Michelle Gardner, deputy coverage chief at Logistics UK, added that the venture would have enabled operators to maneuver items across the area with out delays or disruption on native roads.
She stated: “It’s now crucial that another route is recognized which can allow important logistics deliveries to be made to and from the West Nation with out disturbing the agricultural roads community throughout the world.”
The federal government estimated that the scheme would value £1.7 billion again in 2019, however hovering inflation within the intervening years means it might now be nicely above £2 billion.
Some campaigners celebrated the choice, suggesting the scheme would have prompted “monumental injury” to the panorama of the Stonehenge World Heritage Web site (WHS).
Mike Birkin, performing chairman of the Stonehenge Alliance, stated: “The WHS is a designation of a complete panorama that is stuffed with prehistoric monuments of incalculable worth. The granting of the DCO was all the time perverse given the big injury it will have prompted to the distinctive panorama.”
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The DfT stated: “Given the difficult monetary image we inherited, we needed to make tough selections about numerous street tasks as they have been unfunded or unaffordable.
“We stay dedicated to investing in tasks that ship for the taxpayer and drive progress, which is why we’re investing almost £5 billion this yr alone in our strategic street community to help its upkeep, enhancement and guarantee smoother journeys.”
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