2003
EH persists with its plan to site the VC at Countess East. We expect that they will submit planning application in October 2003.

We have seen plans for a tunnel to carry visitors on a land train under Countess Road (A345) to the World Heritage Site (WHS). “Update on the Visitors Centre” The final drop off point has yet to be established. There may be several such points but all will be nearly a mile away from the Stones. Although EH has promised transport for people who are unable to walk so far, it will be a long walk for the rest of us.

The construction of the VC is dependent on the A303 road improvements being approved. The Highways Agency (HA) has moved away from the “Cut and Cover” tunnel past Stonehenge and has substituted a bored tunnel 2.1 Kms long. “Update on the A303“ Many agencies are lodging objections to the HA plan by 4th September and it now seems likely that there will be a major Public Inquiry

2001
Below you will see the original statement setting out our concerns. In June 2001, the situation in many ways remains the same. Despite alternative proposals English Heritage and the Government seem resolute in their desire to site the Visitor Centre at the most illogical and controversial location. Although a 'new approach' has been adopted by English Heritage, the fundamental problems remain and informed opinion is ignored.

Creation of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site has required a review of the A303 east-west trunk route crossing its centre. The Government-endorsed proposal for the A303 is a 'cut and cover' tunnel across the World Heritage Site. This has caused national and international alarm, and has produced objections from many authoritative organisations. All have been ignored.

Statement (1999)
Our Residents Group has just received a copy of the English Heritage/National Trust document entitled 'The Commercial Opportunity - Stonehenge New Visitor Centre Information Pack'. A full technical appraisal will be carried out and representations made to English Heritage in due course; meanwhile here are just a few questions arising from an initial reading of the document.

1 Projected visitor numbers are said, in the information pack, to be 1.8 million per annum, yet the accompanying Traffic Assessment document, which appraises the impact of anticipated traffic from the development, is based on only 1.0 million visitors. The difference is huge!
Question: Which is the correct figure?

2 The urgently needed fly-over at Countess roundabout, for which Sir Jocelyn Stephens (Chairman of EH) gave our Group an assurance that it was back in the A303 improvement scheme, is merely described in the document as the "preferred solution". Not much assurance here, and no comfort either from Lord Whitty's announcement of 25 June 1999.
Question: Is the fly-over included in the A303 improvement scheme or not; if so for what date?

3 The chosen Private Finance Operator is being asked to spend £750,000 on "temporary improvements" to Countess roundabout; namely traffic signals. This is not a joke, even though it was seen as such when displayed at the recent English Heritage exhibition at Antrobus House.
Question: If, or rather when the traffic signals are seen not to cope with the traffic problems, are we then stuck with them in the event that the so called 'preferred solution' does not materialise?

4 The Group has, without success, previously attempted to open for debate, in the Local Plan process, the subject of the proposed Visitor Centre. We now learn that "...it has been decided (with the District Council) not to pursue the new Visitor Centre complex proposals at the forthcoming Local Plan InquiryÖ"
Question: Why are we being denied the opportunity of debating this important subject, and who in the District Council made such a vital decision on our behalf?

5 Details of the 'shuttle buses' contained in the Traffic Assessment indicate that (even for the 1.0 million visitor assumption) the frequency of the bus service will need to be every 2.5 to 3 minutes at peak periods; approximately 20 to 24 buses every hour in each direction.
Question: Has anyone really looked at the traffic impact and congestion that this many 60 or 75 seater slow moving vehicles will have on the proposed signals at Countess roundabout?

6 At last, and from their own documents, the absurdity of the English Heritage proposal to site the Visitor Centre at Countess East is being revealed. It is hard to imagine any potential Operator being remotely interested in such a flawed commercial opportunity. Even so we must ensure that this proposal is not inflicted on us through lack of awareness, interest, or resistance on our part.

WAKE UP AMESBURY, IT'S NOT TOO LATEÖYET !

If you feel as strongly as we do on the stupidity of siting the Visitor Centre at Countess East with its inherent impact on Countess roundabout, we urge you to write to:

Sir Neil Cossons OBE, Chairman English Heritage,
23 Savile Row, LONDON W1X 1AB.

Mr. Howard Piner, The Town Clerk, Amesbury Town Council,
18, Fairview Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1JX.

NOW!