Wiltshire Council has announced it will delay work on a cycle scheme at Countess Way in Amesbury.

The work was due to start in the coming weeks, but it has been delayed due to the Government’s decision to cancel the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project.

Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves decided to scrap the tunnel last month, describing it as "unaffordable". 

Wiltshire Council expressed its disappointment at the announcement, with its leader councillor saying: “We are extremely dismayed and disappointed at the Government’s decision to cancel the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project.

"These improvements are needed now to ease traffic congestion on the A303 and reduce traffic in our communities, and also ensure economic growth in Wiltshire, unlocking jobs and investment in the wider south-west region."

The new cycleway, which includes the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Countess Road, is part of the Wiltshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), and part of a strategic route linking Salisbury and National Cycle Network 45 to Stonehenge. 

Active Travel England allocated funding for the design and construction of the pedestrian toucan crossing element of the scheme, with the additional funding being provided as part of the community benefits associated with the A303 Stonehenge tunnel scheme.

However, as the tunnel scheme has been cancelled, the council no longer has access to additional funding for the cycle scheme and so has decided to delay the installation of the toucan crossing at this stage, despite the funding for the crossing coming from another a different source.

Cllr Tamara Reay, Cabinet Member for Transports, said: “Following the Government’s decision to cancel the A303 Stonehenge project, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone our work on the cycle scheme at Countess Road in Amesbury, including the installation of the pedestrian toucan crossing.

“We could install the toucan crossing now, but because the funding for the rest of the scheme is now uncertain – which is beyond our control – we cannot commit to it at this stage.

“We are reviewing all the local implications following the Government’s announcement and if funding does become available for this cycle path, we have a well-developed scheme ready to take forward once again.”

“Following the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge tunnel project, we are committed to working with our local partners in the area to find solutions to the congestion and rat running suffered by local communities.”