THE National Highways ‘chatty van’ and protestors against the Stonehenge tunnel congregated in the Guildhall Square today, May 24, where opinion on the controversial project remains divided.

One protestor described the plans to build along the A303 as “a tragedy” that “ignores heritage, the environment, statistics, and common sense”.

The tunnel scheme has faced a great deal of condemnation since it was first announced in 2014 and it has been shelved and brought back to life several times.

National Highways has been touring the area recently with the mobile ‘chatty van’ and last week, communications engagement manager Yogi von Bromley told the Journal: “We are just here to present the facts.

“The tunnel will reunite the landscape and green bridges will be in place to help wildlife cross safely. Chalk from the tunnel will be deposited for five to 10 years and will become chalk grassland which will form part of a nature reserve.”

There are many concerns about the environmental impact and the potential loss of archaeology. Yogi confirmed however that Wessex Archaeology would have a 12-month contract to investigate the area and that ground penetrating radar had already taken place onsite.

At today’s protest Kate freeman, Friends of the Earth southwest campaigner and a part of the Stonehenge Alliance said: “If this tunnel goes ahead, I think that it is an emblem of everything that has gone wrong with the transport policy. It ignores heritage, the environment, statistics, and common sense. It will be a tragedy as it suggests that there is no hope for any transport policy in this country.”

Kate Freeman contradicted the view that the left-over chalk would be used to form part of a nature reserve and said: “Parsonage farm is already a nature reserve, and this will destroy the current nesting site of the stone curlew. They are very sensitive to noise and not enough research is being done about this.

“The chatty van is talking about doing this on an existing nature reserve.”

There is also concern that boring a tunnel under the monument would impact the aquifer.

Kate Fielden, secretary of the Stonehenge Alliance said: “We organised a specialist hydro geologist who has continued to warn that tunnelling through the chalk at Stonehenge will be very difficult. The water table fluctuates so much.

“It has fissures so there will be problems. We don’t have enough information to say that it will affect drinking water but potentially, it could.”

Senior Druid Arthur Pendragon attended the gathering and his concerns focussed on the spiritual aspect of the site.

He said: “Where they are planning to put the portal is exactly where the sun sets and at the eastern side, they will be destroying so much archaeology. This is a sacred site, and a sacred burial ground.”

Currently the costs are set at 1.7 billion pounds but are likely to rise to more than two billion pounds. It is likely that the argument for and against the tunnel will continue for some time to come.

In response to the protest, the chatty van declined to comment to The Journal today.

Andrew Clark, National Highways’ A303 Stonehenge project manager, previously told the Journal: “We respect people’s right to protest. In the meantime, we remain confident the A303 Stonehenge scheme is the best solution for tackling this long-standing traffic bottleneck, improving journeys, reducing noise and pollution, bringing much needed relief to local communities and boosting the economy in the south-west.

"Ultimately, by removing the existing road we will return the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting.

“We’re currently touring Salisbury and surrounding towns and villages close to the planned A303 Stonehenge scheme with a ‘chatty van’ to provide updates for residents, community groups and businesses.

“It’s not a formal consultation. It’s a while since we’ve engaged with local communities and we are simply giving anyone who might be directly impacted and those interested in the proposed scheme the chance to speak to the project team, who can answer any questions and provide an update on where the scheme’s at, such as our ongoing survey work.”

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