Residents from in and around Salisbury hold varying views about the proposed Stonehenge tunnel plans. 

It comes after an appeal against the controversial plans by the Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) organisation was thrown out by the High Court on Monday.  

SSWHS challenged the plans on the grounds that “recent developments and key new evidence” were not taken into account, that the scheme could result in Stonehenge having its World Heritage Status removed, and concerns regarding the environmental impact of the project.

Lucy Bennett, 68, of Wilton, dislikes the idea of a tunnel.

Lucy said: “I don’t see any need. Why put it there, what’s the point?

“Until they build a dual carriageway from Countess Roundabout right the way down to Cornwall, I don’t think you’re going to solve the problem, because the problem at the moment is you’ve got dual carriageway, then it goes down to single carriageway, then it goes up to dual carriageway.”

Salisbury Journal: Lucy Bennett, 68, of Wilton, said she dislike the plans for the Stonehenge tunnel and sees it as unnecessary.Lucy Bennett, 68, of Wilton, said she dislike the plans for the Stonehenge tunnel and sees it as unnecessary. (Image: Joshua Truksa/Newsquest)

Jeremy Budd, 47, who has lived in Salisbury for two-and-a-half years, said he is supportive of the tunnel.

He said: “I think it’s good. I think the traffic is horrendous going through there, so I think it’s great that it’s going ahead.

“Obviously I hope they will do some proper excavations first to see what’s there. It would be nice to make sure they don’t destroy any kind of archaeological site or whatever. It would be nice if they obviously looked through that first. I know that will take time, but ultimately, progress has to be made somewhere.”

Salisbury Journal: Jeremy Budd, 47, of Salisbury, said he supports the Stonehenge tunnel plans to alleviate the horrendous traffic.Jeremy Budd, 47, of Salisbury, said he supports the Stonehenge tunnel plans to alleviate the horrendous traffic. (Image: Joshua Truksa/Newsquest)

Nick Ponsford, 66, and his wife Susan, 66, have lived in Shrewton for a year and are also supportive of the tunnel.

Despite living very nearby, they avoid the A303 due to the traffic, regularly using a diversion through Larkhill.

Nick said he believes a lot of the controversy surrounding the project is based on misconceptions.

He said: “I think there’s inaccurate controversy. I think a lot of the things that people are saying may affect if the tunnel is built are baseless.”

Susan added: “It’s going to look better and sound better with the tunnel, because when you’re at Stonehenge, you can hear the traffic going past you.”

Isobel Pike, 56, has lived in Salisbury all her life and said the tunnel was “not a sensible project”.

Salisbury Journal: Isobel Pike, 56, of Salisbury, said it's daft to dig great big holes through archaeology.Isobel Pike, 56, of Salisbury, said it's daft to dig great big holes through archaeology. (Image: Joshua Truksa/Newsquest)

Isobel said: “It’s daft to dig great big holes through archaeology.

“I completely understand the frustration with the road, but they need to do something to move the road away from the archaeology rather than chuck it straight through it still. Leave the A303 as it is but get the majority of traffic off the A303.

“I think a tunnel would just produce new and exciting problems and it will get delayed with all the archaeology- they’ll have to do all the rescue archaeology, and it’s going to take another 15 years before they get anywhere near actually doing anything and it’s just going to stay the same.

“They need to start working on a route that moves things around, rather than trying to keep going too close to the stones.”