THROUGHOUT the local community there can surely be heard a great sigh of relief now that the two Stonehenge schemes are finally dead and buried.
If the proposals had been
studied thoroughly and the Orwellian brainwashing avoided, it would have been realised long ago that the road tunnel was both technically flawed and
economically unsound, and the English Heritage high-profit
concept would have been instantly dismissed as utterly ludicrous.
The obvious location for a new visitor centre is about one mile west of the monument - not at the bottom of private gardens in Countess Road.
As for the A303, it is now several years since I supplied the Highways Agency with a perfectly viable proposal for diverting the road in a shallow cutting, so that it loops southwards around Stonehenge at a distance of about one mile.
The road would avoid the RSPB nature reserve and all visible antiquities and, at Stonehenge,
traffic would be wholly unseen and unheard.
This alternative proposal includes a Countess flyover, closure of the A344, a new junction at the A360, a Winterbourne Stoke bypass, a network of bridleways, footpaths and two small "hidden" car parks for en route stopping.
The cost of the total package would be just a small fraction of the massive £540 million estimated for the redundant tunnel scheme.
The abandoned schemes have cost the taxpayer a small fortune (several million pounds) in research, planning, design and promotion and it is almost beyond belief that, at the time of the A303 inquiry, the Highways Agency had already realised that the tunnel would cost considerably more than their published estimate.
Entrenched within the
bureaucratic mindset in the two government agencies, there was a fundamental misconception that the road and visitor centre must be made totally invisible
throughout the oversized heritage site which currently surrounds the stones.
In failing to use a little common sense, they designed an outrageously expensive multi-scheme which could never be sanctioned by the prudent Gordon Brown.
If any readers would like to receive more details of the low-budget, no-tunnel proposal, I will happily provide them to anyone who gets in touch.
ALAN HILL, Amesbury
n WITH regard to Stonehenge, Paul Sample says that in his view cancellation of the tunnel is "a real blow to the local Amesbury
community".
Can he name me one Amesbury resident who was in favour of the tunnel?
MARY UNDERWOOD, Amesbury
12:29pm Thursday 10th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: YS, Allington on 1:31pm Thu 10 Jan 08
At last common sense prevails. The fact that people have wasted so much money on a scheme that couldn't succeed is scandalous, let us hope that the simple, low-budget answer is put into place. If English Heritage really can't stand people seeing the stones without paying then maybe they should consider plant a belt of trees - very enrionmentally friendly.
At last common sense prevails. The fact that people have wasted so much money on a scheme that couldn't succeed is scandalous, let us hope that the simple, low-budget answer is put into place. If English Heritage really can't stand people seeing the stones without paying then maybe they should consider plant a belt of trees - very enrionmentally friendly.
Posted by: SB, within walking distance of Stonehenge on 5:05pm Thu 10 Jan 08
With due respect to Alan Hill's proposal, I fear the thing that gets overlooked quite often is that diverting the A303 as he desires would unearth an enormous amount of archaeology in the World Heritage Site.
If that was not to be completely obliterated and therefore its huge historical value lost forever, it would all need to be professionally excavated and recorded along the entire route.
Has he considered the costs involved in doing such an enormous archeological excavation? I can't believe anyone would be so unsympathetic as to propose NOT carrying out that vital work.
Remember the 1960s upgrading of the A345 through Durrington Walls, what amazing things that uncovered and what had to be sacrificed through lack of time and money?
This would be at least 5 times that scale.
With due respect to Alan Hill's proposal, I fear the thing that gets overlooked quite often is that diverting the A303 as he desires would unearth an enormous amount of archaeology in the World Heritage Site.
If that was not to be completely obliterated and therefore its huge historical value lost forever, it would all need to be professionally excavated and recorded along the entire route.
Has he considered the costs involved in doing such an enormous archeological excavation? I can't believe anyone would be so unsympathetic as to propose NOT carrying out that vital work.
Remember the 1960s upgrading of the A345 through Durrington Walls, what amazing things that uncovered and what had to be sacrificed through lack of time and money?
This would be at least 5 times that scale.
Posted by: John Ellis, Farley, Salisbury on 4:35pm Fri 11 Jan 08
Much has been said about the Stonehenge saga in recent editions of the Journal but few have shown the in depth knowledge necessary for a real solution. If there was a Texas solution at the 1995 Conference, which I attended every day, it made no impact. The conclusion was driven by a deliberately late intervention by Sir Jocelyn Stevens’ English Heritage suggesting a tunnel from near Amesbury to Airman’s Cross. Lacking forewarning, no serious challenge was offered. It would have died as did the more recent tunnel for the same reasons.
Looping South, like the similar Grey Route option which the Minister and Salisbury VW agent removed without clear reason, might have worked had it not traversed much prime game bird country! It would also have transgressed the aims of the World Heritage Committee to remove all modern structures, like tarmac, not extend them. Shallow cuttings or any other form of surface excavation in an archaeologically rich landscape, as recent discoveries like the Amesbury Archer prove, are definitely out.
However, since the land has already been fouled with the existing dual carriageway, as prominent archaeologists accept, a perfect place for an unobtrusive Visitor Centre is certainly at New King Barrows Ridge where the tunnel entrances would have been and near the cottages above with a good distant view of the Stones. The dualled road gives easy access and ample parking at minimal cost. All that remains is the only viable southerly line for the road. That route was submitted to the 2004 Public Inquiry only to be rejected without credible reason - or support from our politically sceptical MP. It was costed by a peeked and devious Highways Agency(HA) at many times more than the average per Km for any other similar road [italic]and, incredibly, greater than the ill-fated tunnel – and the Inspector believed it![/italic]
The road, AR4 at the Inquiry, detoured well south achieving all the conditions set for a World Heritage Site (WHS) leaving Stonehenge in a natural uncluttered setting visible but not too close to a partially buried Visitor Centre (VC) at the tunnel entrance site accessed, as today, from a Countess Roundabout devoid of trunk road traffic. Passing A303 traffic has and never will bring significant business to Amesbury but, by diverting the trunk road south near the clearly visible Solstice Park, the latter would not suffer.
To find a dualled alternative to the inadequate road past the Stones and crossing the barrier of heavily protected land running from the artillery ranges in the north, through the AONB and European SAC of the Woodford Valley to Salisbury, only one place to cross the Avon with minimal environmental damage is evident. That is where the boundaries of the Woodford Valley and the City meet below Camp Hill. So let the experts draw the route from Beacon Hill east of Amesbury, down the east side of Boscombe Down airfield and under the reserve runway above Idmiston to the crossing point and thence back up to the western dualled A303 near Yarnbury Castle. That longer, as bypasses usually are, but the fast road could be covered in under five minutes through attractive country and largely hidden from view. All solutions will have drawbacks but this road offers a number of compensating benefits with minimal distress and certainly no demolitions. It is a route that has been long in the drafting aided by highly experienced engineers from ideas originally published for public consultation in late 1999.
Apart from those who think a dualled road beside the Monument essential for that heart warming but suicidal glimpse of Stonehenge in fast four lane traffic, let anybody find serious fault if they can and I will answer it. [italic]Oh! by the way the real cost is likely to be under £250 million, a quarter of the tunnel![/italic]
Much has been said about the Stonehenge saga in recent editions of the Journal but few have shown the in depth knowledge necessary for a real solution. If there was a Texas solution at the 1995 Conference, which I attended every day, it made no impact. The conclusion was driven by a deliberately late intervention by Sir Jocelyn Stevens’ English Heritage suggesting a tunnel from near Amesbury to Airman’s Cross. Lacking forewarning, no serious challenge was offered. It would have died as did the more recent tunnel for the same reasons.
Looping South, like the similar Grey Route option which the Minister and Salisbury VW agent removed without clear reason, might have worked had it not traversed much prime game bird country! It would also have transgressed the aims of the World Heritage Committee to remove all modern structures, like tarmac, not extend them. Shallow cuttings or any other form of surface excavation in an archaeologically rich landscape, as recent discoveries like the Amesbury Archer prove, are definitely out.
However, since the land has already been fouled with the existing dual carriageway, as prominent archaeologists accept, a perfect place for an unobtrusive Visitor Centre is certainly at New King Barrows Ridge where the tunnel entrances would have been and near the cottages above with a good distant view of the Stones. The dualled road gives easy access and ample parking at minimal cost. All that remains is the only viable southerly line for the road. That route was submitted to the 2004 Public Inquiry only to be rejected without credible reason - or support from our politically sceptical MP. It was costed by a peeked and devious Highways Agency(HA) at many times more than the average per Km for any other similar road
and, incredibly, greater than the ill-fated tunnel – and the Inspector believed it!
The road, AR4 at the Inquiry, detoured well south achieving all the conditions set for a World Heritage Site (WHS) leaving Stonehenge in a natural uncluttered setting visible but not too close to a partially buried Visitor Centre (VC) at the tunnel entrance site accessed, as today, from a Countess Roundabout devoid of trunk road traffic. Passing A303 traffic has and never will bring significant business to Amesbury but, by diverting the trunk road south near the clearly visible Solstice Park, the latter would not suffer.
To find a dualled alternative to the inadequate road past the Stones and crossing the barrier of heavily protected land running from the artillery ranges in the north, through the AONB and European SAC of the Woodford Valley to Salisbury, only one place to cross the Avon with minimal environmental damage is evident. That is where the boundaries of the Woodford Valley and the City meet below Camp Hill. So let the experts draw the route from Beacon Hill east of Amesbury, down the east side of Boscombe Down airfield and under the reserve runway above Idmiston to the crossing point and thence back up to the western dualled A303 near Yarnbury Castle. That longer, as bypasses usually are, but the fast road could be covered in under five minutes through attractive country and largely hidden from view. All solutions will have drawbacks but this road offers a number of compensating benefits with minimal distress and certainly no demolitions. It is a route that has been long in the drafting aided by highly experienced engineers from ideas originally published for public consultation in late 1999.
Apart from those who think a dualled road beside the Monument essential for that heart warming but suicidal glimpse of Stonehenge in fast four lane traffic, let anybody find serious fault if they can and I will answer it.
Oh! by the way the real cost is likely to be under £250 million, a quarter of the tunnel!
Posted by: Garry Denke, Plano, Texas, USA on 8:15pm Fri 11 Jan 08
[bold]A303 Stonehenge Improvement Funded[/bold]
The Catholic Church and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England have secured private funding from G-D himself, A Texas Tycoon [his Avenue Banks deposits exceeding £12.0 billion ($24.0 billion) have been verified], to cover all A303 Stonehenge Improvement costs including; but not limited to:
(a) Stonehenge Visitor Centre located between the North and West sources of G-D's rock collection, near Airman's Corner (A360).
(b) A long bored twin carriageway tunnel under the entire site [minimum 4-kilometre (2.4-mile) length] located below existing A303.
(c) New junctions, overpasses and/or underpasses at Airman's Corner, Winterbourne Stoke, Countess Roundabout, Long Barrow, etc.
[bold]Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of G-D, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith[/bold] said; [quote]My Government's programme will meet people's aspirations for a cleaner environment.[/quote]
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/lords/?id=
2007-11-06a.1.0&s=sp
eaker%3A13935#g1.2
And thus: [quote]It is done.[/quote]
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/wrans/?id=
2008-01-10a.177162.h
&u=3440
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/wrans/?id=
2008-01-07b.173998.h
&u=3440
In loving memory of Howard Hughes, Jr. and Roland Totera, Dec.
G-D
A303 Stonehenge Improvement Funded
The Catholic Church and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England have secured private funding from G-D himself, A Texas Tycoon , to cover all A303 Stonehenge Improvement costs including; but not limited to:
(a) Stonehenge Visitor Centre located between the North and West sources of G-D's rock collection, near Airman's Corner (A360).
(b) A long bored twin carriageway tunnel under the entire site located below existing A303.
(c) New junctions, overpasses and/or underpasses at Airman's Corner, Winterbourne Stoke, Countess Roundabout, Long Barrow, etc.
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of G-D, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith said;
My Government's programme will meet people's aspirations for a cleaner environment.
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/lords/?id=
2007-11-06a.1.0&s=sp
eaker%3A13935#g1.2
And thus:
It is done.
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/wrans/?id=
2008-01-10a.177162.h
&u=3440
http://www.theyworkf
oryou.com/wrans/?id=
2008-01-07b.173998.h
&u=3440
In loving memory of Howard Hughes, Jr. and Roland Totera, Dec.
G-D
Posted by: Garry Denke, Plano, Texas, USA on 1:17pm Tue 15 Jan 08
[bold]Lord Stevens of Stonehenge vs. Citizen Hughes[/bold]
Sir Jocelyn Stevens, the former chairman of English Heritage, was so set on seeing the Stonehenge Visitor Centre being constructed at Countess Road East. The seventy acres at Countess East was Sir Jocelyn Stevens' grand vision for the Centre - this is where he wanted it and this is where he was going to have it - come hell or high water. On a page given over to the timetable for the Stonehenge proposals, it states that [italic]"Lord Stevens of Stonehenge"[/italic] would open the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre in 2000. It never happened, of course, because Allene Stone Gano Hughes, mother of Airman Howard R. Hughes, Jr., descendant of Catherine of Valois, Dowager Queen of England, by second husband Owen Tudor, previously proposed Airman's Corner (A360/A344) for a Stonehenge Visitors' Centre in 1919, before the Lt-Col William Hawley excavations of 1919-1926. This is according to Howard's testimony at White Rock Court (Route 66), Kingman, Arizona, in the Fall of 1974 - [italic]"Airman's Corner is where she[/italic] (Allene Stone Gano Hughes) [italic]wanted it and Airman's Corner is where she is going to have it"[/italic] stated [italic]"Citizen Hughes"[/italic] - all Countess Road Residents agreed.
Garry W. Denke
Geologist/Geophysici
st
Arizona State University - 1974
http://www.stoneheng
e-crrg.org.uk/index.
htm
Lord Stevens of Stonehenge vs. Citizen Hughes
Sir Jocelyn Stevens, the former chairman of English Heritage, was so set on seeing the Stonehenge Visitor Centre being constructed at Countess Road East. The seventy acres at Countess East was Sir Jocelyn Stevens' grand vision for the Centre - this is where he wanted it and this is where he was going to have it - come hell or high water. On a page given over to the timetable for the Stonehenge proposals, it states that
"Lord Stevens of Stonehenge" would open the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre in 2000. It never happened, of course, because Allene Stone Gano Hughes, mother of Airman Howard R. Hughes, Jr., descendant of Catherine of Valois, Dowager Queen of England, by second husband Owen Tudor, previously proposed Airman's Corner (A360/A344) for a Stonehenge Visitors' Centre in 1919, before the Lt-Col William Hawley excavations of 1919-1926. This is according to Howard's testimony at White Rock Court (Route 66), Kingman, Arizona, in the Fall of 1974 -
"Airman's Corner is where she (Allene Stone Gano Hughes)
wanted it and Airman's Corner is where she is going to have it" stated
"Citizen Hughes" - all Countess Road Residents agreed.
Garry W. Denke
Geologist/Geophysici
st
Arizona State University - 1974
http://www.stoneheng
e-crrg.org.uk/index.
htm
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