CAMPAIGNERS opposing the Stonehenge tunnel have said they remain steadfastly against plans for a dual carriageway tunnel on the A303 in an update after UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting.

The committee met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, September 10.

UNESCO's World Heritage Committee (WHC) remained resolute in its opposition to the A303 dual carriageway tunnel project, saying that it threatens the Stonehenge World Heritage Site and warning that it could cause permanent and irreversible harm.

In an update to its supporters, the Save Stonehenge WHS group said: “UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC), meeting in Riyadh since September 10, has stuck to its guns and sent a strong message to the UK Government about its concern for Stonehenge World Heritage Site (WHS).

"It remains firmly opposed to the dualling of the A303 through Stonehenge WHS which will cause permanent and irreversible harm." 

READ MORE: Stonehenge: Campaigners present UNESCO with petition opposing tunnel

The World Heritage Site (WHS) is at risk of being placed on the danger list if changes are not made to the proposed tunnel scheme on the A303.

National Highways' plans were approved in 2020, before being quashed following a successful campaign at the High Court in 2021, and then approved again by the government in July.

The World Heritage Committee's statement said it expresses 'profound regret' that the scheme has been granted a development consent order (DCO) without having been modified in accordance with previous committee decisions and recommendations.

It reiterated a previous request not to proceed with the scheme in its current form for the section between Amesbury and Berwick Down.

It also noted that the approved A303 road improvement scheme within the Stonehenge component retains substantial dual carriageway sections exposed in cuttings that constitute a potential threat. 

At the WHC meeting, the Stonehenge Alliance had a statement read out by a representative from Australian Marine (an Australian NGO).

They added: “We remain grateful that UNESCO remains firmly opposed to the road scheme and await the news from the courts as to whether we will receive permission to argue our case in court.”

Unesco now wants the government to act before the World Heritage Committee meets again in February 2024.

David Bullock, National Highways project manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said: “It is very much a scheme objective to conserve and enhance the World Heritage Site and this is being achieved through close collaborative working with heritage groups, the independent A303 Scientific Committee, and our archaeology contractors, who have an extensive track record of work in connection with the Stonehenge landscape.

“We have taken a lot of care to get to this point, and we will continue to work with the Heritage Monitoring Advisory Group and experts within the Scientific Committee to ensure the scheme is delivered with heritage and the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site at the heart of every decision made.

“We remain confident this scheme is the best solution for tackling a long-standing traffic bottleneck, improving journeys, bringing much needed relief to local communities, boosting the economy in the south-west, while returning the Stonehenge landscape to something like its original setting.”