The official backing of a controversial tunnel scheme near Stonehenge has divided public opinion.
In yesterday's Budget speech, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged to 'get the A303 done'.
READ MORE: Government gives go ahead to Stonehenge A303 scheme in Budget
Documents released later in the day confirmed the Government's commitment to building a "high-quality dual carriageway and a two-mile tunnel in the South West to speed up journeys on the A303, and to remove traffic from the iconic setting of Stonehenge".
While the news was welcomed by Salisbury MP John Glen and English Heritage, which looks after the site, members of the public and residents who have been keeping a close eye on the twists and turns of the saga, have met the announcement with mixed reviews.
"About time!," said Ash Hadlow in a comment on Facebook.
"Just anything that stops the 'rubberneckers' slowing the traffic to a standstill," added Gareth Dobson.
Matthew Tamea tweeted: "A Stonehenge tunnel. Finally! It can't come soon enough!"
A Stonehenge tunnel. Finally! It can’t come soon enough!
— Matthew Tamea (@RocheFive) March 11, 2020
However, others seem a bit sceptical, with one social media user suggesting key stakeholders involved in the plans are more concerned about "hiding the road" than relieving traffic.
On Facebook, Nige Weaver said: "The issue should not be just to remove the road from the landscape, but to dual the A303 to enable better traffic flow and ease congestion, but all they seem concerned about is hiding the road."
Campaign group Transport Action Network, who had come out against the £2bn scheme, said they were "really disappointed" about the Government's go-ahead.
Really disappointed to see Government announce progressing with highly damaging #Stonehenge scheme despite opposition from @UNESCO. It's sticking two fingers up at our past, and two fingers up at our future with nothing to help the present #ClimateEmergency #NHS pic.twitter.com/0I2wU7iuD5
— Transport Action Network (@TransportActio2) March 11, 2020
Chalke Valley History Festival also revealed they were "sad" about the news, adding that the impact of the tunnel on the archaeological site will be "catastrophic".
So this is what the A303 at #Stonehenge looked at circa 1928.. not much traffic then!
— CVHF (@CVHISTORYFEST) March 12, 2020
So sad to hear that the Tunnel is going ahead - the impact it will have on this rich archaelogical ground will be catastrophic.
(📸:@rmouldingandco who built the first tea shop there in 1929) pic.twitter.com/TPb6kZNIq3
Other Twitter users have called the scheme "ridiculous", with one saying: "There's plenty of options to bypass the area with a road on the surface."
"Are there not cheaper alternatives to an expensive tunnel by diverting the A303 along a roughly parallel but more southerly route?," asked another one.
The construction of the two-mile, dual carriageway tunnel is subject to planning application being approved.
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