CPRE Ostrich Has Head Stuck in Sand for A Decade

There's an interesting, though somewhat depressing article in today's (April 24th 2014) Daily Telegraph entitled "Stonehenge tunnel plans could be revived".  The article is by the Telegraph's Transport Correspondent, Nick Collins and is in response to the Department for Transport's  A303/A30/A358 Corridor Feasibility Study Scope Document which you can find here.  I strongly suggest that you read it for yourselves as I fear Mr Collins has misrepresented some of it in his article.

What is more disturbing are the comments of the CPRE below:

"The Campaign to Protect Rural England said several of the spots under examination, including Stonehenge, are only congested at certain times of year and do not merit major development.
Ralph Smyth, senior transport campaigner for the CPRE, said: “The traffic [at Stonehenge] hasn’t increased in the last 10 years and it does not justify the huge cost of a tunnel.”
A long tunnel would at least be preferable to a dual carriageway at the surface, which could cause the historic site to lose its world heritage status, he added".  

I'm not sure where they have been for the last 10 years, but as anyone who lives alongside the A303, or drives along it regularly, to say that the traffic at Stonehenge hasn't increased over the last 10 years is risible.  It's worse than that, it's damned dangerous.  Opinion is one thing and evidence quite another.  I would strongly suggest that Ralph Smyth takes a bit of time to read traffic flow data and projections before he makes any further pronouncements.  In particular, he should take a look at Somerset County Council's excellent Economic Impact Study and the figures contained therein, not to mention the traffic studies conducted on behalf of Wiltshire Council and English Heritage.

If you want to take this up with the CPRE directly, then their contact details are:

National Office
Campaign to Protect Rural England
5-11 Lavington Street
London
SE1 0NZ

Tel: 020 7981 2800
Fax: 020 7981 2899

Email: info@cpre.org.uk