A Helpful Meeting with the National Trust

Last night, representatives of STAG met with two representatives of the National Trust, in Shrewton. The National Trust have owned a lot of the land around and about Stonehenge, in what now forms the Stonehenge World Heritage site, since 1927 and clearly have an interest in what happens to the area in the future - including the impact any improvement to the A303 might have on land in their custodianship.

A meeting of this sort, between a protest group and a public body - albeit a charitable one, could have been a recipe for acrimony and backward-looking hostility.  As it was, both sides agreed at the outset that regardless of any historical concerns, we all needed to focus on the future - and that was the spirit in which we engaged.  Although we didn't make any specific agreements, for that wasn't really the intention of the meeting, it did seem that there would be a lot of common ground as we move forward to attempt to find a solution to the seemingly intractable problem of the A303. The sort of thing I mean is a desire to minimise any impact on virgin countryside - including National Trust land, the World Heritage site and privately owned land.  A desire to minimise the impact on local communities of any improvements to the A303 and a recognition that closure of the A344 had led to the predicted rat-running along the Packway in Larkhill to Shrewton and in other more far-flung communities.

We were particularly taken with the fact that the two National Trust representatives had taken the time to drive into Shrewton along part of the rat-run and had noted the narrowness of the road, the lack of pavements, the bends and the proximity of the school.  They were also very pro-active in suggesting and discussing the sorts of improvements to sign-age and road structure that could improve the situation.  These might only be short-term fixes, but ones that could easily prevent a fatality or serious injury until such time as the A303 is dualled - SH2 a reality. 

Looking forward to the forthcoming feasibility study, it seems that the National Trust are willing to look at any and all options for routing the A303 past Stonehenge - to the north of the current route, to the south of it, or under it - recognising that tunnelling through unfavourable rock strata has improved enormously in the last 5 years. 

I don't think either STAG or the NT were in favour of a conventional dual-carriageway along the current route of the A303 between Stonehenge Bottom and Longbarrow Roundabout - not least because of the problem caused by rubber-necking car drives taken photos of Stonehenge as they pass by; bad enough now in near stationary traffic, but a recipe for carnage if traffic speeds do increase again - it seems that getting the travelling public to move off their main route by 500m (the old visitor's centre) was acceptable, but asking them to go 1 to 2km off their route is too much!

So, these are clearly folks we can work with in the future - and look forward to doing so.  Let's hope that some of the other stakeholders are prepared to be as forthcoming and open-minded.  What is certain is that after all the reviews and public inquiries that have already taken place, there will be no perfect solution, acceptable to all and that can be constructed in an instant at minimal cost and disturbance.  Compromises will have to be made - and likely by all parties. 


Time will tell if the meeting in London today between the Minister and representatives of Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon Councillors will be entered into in the same spirit.

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Phillipe, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Transport on Improving the A303

Back in October, I wrote to Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Phillipe, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Transport.  Given her brief, she is someone you might expect to be fully behind plans to upgrade the A303 through Wiltshire in a dynamic, forthcoming and informative way.  I also fully expected that she might be able to clear up something that has puzzled me for some time - Wiltshire Council's about-turn on closure of the A344 without improvement/dualling of the A303 first.

This is the letter:

...I would like to extend an invitation to you to submit a short piece on your views on the need to dual the A303 beyond Stonehenge Bottom to its end near Honiton, the need to bypass villages such as Winterbourne Stoke in a sympathetic manner and the need to develop some short term measures to overcome the chaos and enhanced danger on the roads surrounding Stonehenge since the closure of the A344.

We have extended the same invitation to local, national and international figures and have already published a statement by John Glen MP and hope to have a similar piece from Graham Watson MEP in the next few days.  These will be published on our blog - WiSBAng - Winterbourne Stoke (A303) Bypass Angst  http://bypasswinterbournestoke.blogspot.co.uk/ which works in conjunction with the Stonehenge Traffic Action Group http://staga303.blogspot.co.uk/  (STAG - previously known as the Shrewton Traffic Action Group).

You may also be able to clear up a puzzle for us.  We know that as recently as 11 April 2011, Wiltshire Council wrote to the then Minister of Transport to remind him that the Council was against any plan to close the A344 without an improvement to the A303 because of the likely impact on traffic in local communities - a likely consequence of which Wiltshire Council was well aware since before 2005.  We are keen to understand why, at some point between April 2011 and June this year, Wiltshire Council seemingly reneged on its long held position and acceded to the closure of the A344 - acceded without so much as a whimper?   What pressure was brought to bear on Wiltshire Council by central government and which representatives of Wiltshire Council were involved in agreeing, or at least not resisting, the A344 closure.  It's the sort of thing our readers will like to be aware of when it comes to elections, by-elections and that sort of thing...

It came as something of a surprise to get the following very terse response:

...Wiltshire Council's position in relation to the latest initiative to improve this vital transport infrastructure was captured in the attached prospectus which we produced in partnership with Devon and Somerset County Councils and the Local Economic Partnerships in our area. Since submission of the prospectus to the minister, the government has announced funding for a feasibility study on the whole route and we will be working with Highways Agency and other local authorities to progress the study. We shall also continue to promote the much needed improvements at every opportunity.  We are due to meet the new Transport Minister in December...

We looked at the prospectus and noted it referred to traffic censuses on the A303.  That was a bit of a puzzle as we had just received a response from the Highways Agency, acting as the executive agency for the Department for Transport, to a Freedom of Information Act request on traffic censuses on the A303 - and they claimed that none had ever taken place between 2000 and 2013.  It turns out that the Highways Agency were being spectacularly incompetent and they had failed to realise that an FOIA raised with the DfT needed to be answered on behalf of the DfT and not just the Highways Agency. 

Still, offering us a freely available prospectus seemed a bit, well, half-hearted. 

Cllr de Rhé-Phillipe had also ducked our last question - so we sent her a gentle reminder, by return,

...Thank you very much for your response and the prospectus.  Having read it, it leaves me a little concerned as it refers to traffic figures.  According to a response to an FOIA I received from the Highways Agency today, they “are unaware of any traffic censuses on the A303”  - which if true, may cast doubt on the case that is being made.  It would be interesting to know where the data came from.

I also see that you have not answered the second part of my question regarding the apparent change of heart of Wiltshire Council with respect to closure of the A344 before the A303 was improved.  I am sure that this was merely an oversight on your part in your eagerness to provide me with information relating to the first part of my query.  I will hold any  public comment to your for a few days to give you a reasonable chance to respond....

Sadly, since the end of October we have had no further reply from Cllr de Rhé-Phillipe.  I think we've exceeded the few days grace we extended her by a goodly margin, so that's why we've now published the limited correspondence we have had.

It does make us wonder though why Cllr de Rhé-Phillipe is so seemingly reluctant to explain why Wiltshire Council reversed its position so abruptly and unexpectedly.  Perhaps it's because Cllr de Rhé-Phillipe simply isn't privy to decisions of that level of importance - despite her Cabinet membership? Or, if she was privy to that decision, is there some embarrassment about it within Wiltshire Council circles?  Has something worse taken place? 

If Cllr de Rhé-Phillipe wants to clarify things, or another Wiltshire Councillor, or Cabinet member, knows why the position changed, we would love to hear  from them. If not, rest assured we will keep on digging until we get to the answer.

Dual Days of Action for SH2 - 17th and 18th December

Now, this is very important news.  STAG are going to hold 2 days of Action on the 17th an 18th December 2013 to coincide with the Press launch of the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre on the 17th December and its opening to the public on the 18th of December.

The rationale for doing this is that the closure of the A344 without improving the A303, despite every warning that had been given to Wiltshire Council and English Heritage about the consequences for local traffic over a period of nearly a decade, together with the ill-conceived changes at Airman's Cross and Longbarrow Roundabout, have achieved exactly what was predicted - traffic chaos on the A303 and "rat-running" through small villages from Bulford in the north east to Stapleford on the A36 in the south west.  However much English Heritage protests that the A344 closure was the work of Wiltshire Council, it is quite clear that this was done at their behest to return the World Heritage site to its ancient setting - or at least the Disney-fied, PC version of the ancient setting that English Heritage find acceptable - complete with a Neolithic-compatible land train!

Now, just in case you might think otherwise, we are not saying that improving the setting of Stonehenge isn't a good thing - though we would question English Heritage's approach - we are just a little incensed by the sheer selfishness and lack of consideration shown to the local population, and the travelling public, by all involved in the closure of the A344 before a solution had been found and implemented for the A303 and the surrounding road infrastructure.  Given that English Heritage have laid on a Press day, it seems churlish not to make use of it, now doesn't it?

What form of event or events these Dual Days of Action will take is still a closely guarded secret and taking shape, day by day.  Please keep an eye out here, and on Twitter (#A303) over the next few days to see how you can participate - and we will need as many of you as possible to join in.  Rest assured that whatever it turns out to be, it will be peaceful and in complete accord with Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

SH2 - Imitation Being the Sincerest Form of Flattery

My apologies for not posting anything for a couple of weeks, I've been away - enjoying roads that were designed to carry traffic between point A and point B with the minimum of fuss and in the shortest time possible.  Unlike the A303.

Well, I suppose a bit of catch-up is in order and one of the news events further west, caught the eye of one of our correspondents.

It seems that the idea of using money saved from the ill-conceived HS2 project to dual the A303 is gaining a bit of traction.   Howard Gosling, a self-employed dangerous goods advisor for the Department for Transport believes money allocated to build the controversial high speed rail link between London and the north could be better spent and has been speaking to the Western Gazette:

Read more here: http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/HS2-Government-s-vanity-project-millions-pounds/story-20119263-detail/story.html

But anyone expecting a quick fix would be disappointed by the statement of the blindingly obvious from Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin,  reported in the Western Morning News on 27th November.  Read more here: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/A303-needs-upgrade-time-says-Minister/story-20225523-detail/story.html

Remember, Remember the 18th December...

...when the new Stonehenge Visitors Centre is formally opened. It would be wonderful if we could swamp the World Heritage Site (WHS), on the day, with lots of folks wanting to use the event to draw attention to the problems the WHS causes, by its impact on traffic flows in the area for local residents, travellers and business-folk alike.  If it wasn't for the WHS, it is likely that the A303 would have been dualled decades ago - and as for the A344 - don't go there.

  A few posts back, we told you which local residents were entitled to the free Stonehenge Local Residents and we estimated that could be around 30,000 of you, give or take a few.  We also warned that Amesbury Library, the only place we know of that issues these cards, was running low.

STAG reports today that the library were out of cards on 1 November and a follow-up phone call to them today (5th November) suggested they had been told by English Heritage to expect a new supply in the next week.  This is something we need to keep a close eye on.  As the originator of this report observed, a cynic might think the lack of cards was an English Heritage ploy to keep locals at bay on opening day.

It is worth noting, however, that nowhere in the original deed of gift by Cecil Chubb was any mention made of English Heritage or the need to have a printed pass on a piece of cardboard.  The only condition needed for entry is to live in one of relevant villages.  We would assume that simply having proof of residency in one of these would be sufficient to comply with the conditions of the deed of gift and gain free entry on the gate.  We are sure that English Heritage won't like this suggestion as it might cause a bit of discontent with the paying customers, but that's a deed of gift for you...

Stagman - The Birth of Your Everyday Super Hero

Well, what a day Friday turned out to be.  STAG operatives were racing around the rat-runs of south Wiltshire getting the lost, confused, re-routed or merely befuddled to sign up to the Stonehenge Traffic Action Group petition when they noticed something going on.  If the truth be told, they were actually progressing at the pace of a super-annuated, arthritic snail, in the vicinity of the Salisbury road north from Amesbury towards its junction with the A3028 Double Hedges road in Bulford, when one of our more active supporters noticed the traffic was moving slower even than he was.

The A303 was at its usual Friday best - allowing plenty of time for casual photos,

 The A345 through Amesbury was backed up from the Countess Roundabout who knows how far back south.  I do hope some of these poor unfortunates took time out from the jam to pop in to see our friends at One Brown Cow (and NO, we are not on commission from them - we just feel that one good turn deserves another!)

 More and more traffic was opting to leave the A303 and try and head north up the Salisbury Road, then to cut back west through Larkhill and Shrewton...

 ...but it was going nowhere fast.

Our budding superhero - for that is what he was to become(at least in the eyes of the disgruntled motorists, bus-drivers and others stuck on the hill) decided to find out what on earth had snarled up yet another road around Stonehenge.    This time, it turned out to be a set of 4-way traffic lights at the end of Stonehenge Road.  They were ostensibly there to ensure safe passage around the road works EXCEPT, in true British fashion, there was little evidence of road work, no road works in progress and no road workers in sight.  In fact, there was little evidence that anyone had done anything other than erect the traffic light (I'd been through earlier in the week and there was bugger-all evidence of anything going on then either!)

It was then our superhero, let's call him STAGMAN, leapt into action (Err, those who have met him, know that leaping isn't quite his forte, but hell, I'm telling the story and you've got to have a stag that leaps - right!).

He contacted Wiltshire Constabulary, nice chaps and as it turns out, chaps who, just like Stagman, have an abundance of common sense.  "Nous" is what what we call it in Lancashire - a rare commodity there or anywhere else,; but there was a lot of it around on Friday.  Stagman explained the problem, the police listened, Stagman suggested a course of action and the police did not disagree.
So Stagman - took down the traffic lights, removed the roadworks - just like that.  Within a few short minutes...

 ...all the traffic jam had gone - and Stagman could relax; a job well done.

So to anyone who might think STAG and WiSBAng are just a lot of hot air - carry on, think what you will, but Stagman demonstrated on Friday that we are practically-minded as well and will get things done.

As for Stagman, well who knows.  We tried to get a photo of him on Friday and failed.  He promised one yesterday, but think he was teasing us.   Then, we heard rumours that he was taking this super hero stuff all very seriously and had gone out and got himself a costume - as that is what all super heroes do.   We despatched our trusty photographer to Shrewton this morning and managed to snap the following from a hedgerow in one of the brighter interludes between rain showers:

We thought the beard was an especially nice touch - and using the road-kill fox to make it was absolutely inspired.  We would have shown you a full body shot except this blog is rated for under 18s.  Let's just say he wasn't wearing a suit...


...but those who have been round the Longbarrow Roundabout this morning will have noticed the festering badger has disappeared.

If anyone manages to get a better photo of Stagman, preferably in action, before Christmas, there is a nice bottle of wine on offer!

SH2 - A Proposal For A Very Northerly Route

It is very easy for us to sit here and complain about the problems caused by the lack of dualling of the A303, the lack of bypasses, the idiocy of various bodies - the Highways Agency, the Department for Transport and Wiltshire Council - in closing the A344 before the A303 problems were resolved, despite the excellent advice they were given, in order to pander to the demands of English Heritage and the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.

It is very easy, because they have set themselves up as such easy targets for ridicule and derision - and they will be duly ridiculed and derided. 

However, whilst we must be resolute in learning the lessons of the past, we need to look to the future and ask ourselves how might the problem be solved.  So what is it we want to achieve exactly?  Well, here at WiSBAng, we would offer the following list of key points:

- Dual the entire length of the A303 (and the A358 and A30 to Penzance)
- Bypass villages such as Winterbourne Stoke
- Remove the A303 from the Stonehenge World Heritage Site sight-line
- Minimising the need to damage virgin farmland
- Minimising the cost
- In doing all of the above, eliminating rat-running through local villages.

However, we need to look at some of the limiting factors:

- The location of the World Heritage Site itself
- The location of Parsonage Down site
- The high cost of stuffing the A303 in a tunnel
- The unsuitability of the WHS geology for stuffing the A303 in a tunnel.

There are a few other factors that need to be borne in mind.

-The Armed Forces are retrenching to Wiltshire from Germany and are planning to accommodate a further 3,500-4,000 people, including families, at Larkhill, but:
- The Armed Forces have reduced massively in size since the heyday of activity in the Salisbury Plain training area;
- Not all of the Salisbury Plain Training Area is in use all of the time - so, very simplistically, it can't all be needed.
- The land occupied by the Salisbury Plain Training Area is already in government ownership or leasehold.
- The military population is largely transient - they come, they are posted, they go.
- Whatever route west is taken for the A303 - it is going to destroy/damage some archaeology.
- Most routes that have been proposed to date go through virgin countryside, or go so far south that they will start to have undesirable adverse impacts on the traffic flow in and around Salisbury.
- Whatever route west is taken, it will require some virgin countryside.
- Much of the virgin countryside that would need to be sacrificed to reroute the A303, especially on the routes previously proposed, is owned by rich and influential individuals who can be expected to object a wee bit.
- The Green lobby might also object a little - think 'Winchester Bypass.'

So, is there a route that could possibly deal with all, or most of the above?  We think so, and here it is:

 Just click on the picture to see the enlarged view.  Basically, the proposed route leaves the current A303 at the Parkhouse Roundabout, cuts northwest into MoD land and then heads due west, north of Bulford and Larkhill.  It then continues westwards until it reaches a point on the A360, roughly equidistant between Shrewton and Tilshead, before cutting back to the south west to rejoin the A303 at the Wylye junction.  As I write, I can hear the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth in MoD - it's going to mess up the small-arms- ranges between Bulford and Tidworth and cut the two camps apart - but there is a helluva lot of training area and rifle/grenade ranges can be resited - how hard is it to build a berm?  Then think of the benefits to MoD - most civilian traffic could be removed from Larkhill - benefiting the newly returned families and making a much clearer distinction between the living area and the training area. Unexploded ordnance along the route- well, there's bound to be some, but what a wonderful training opportunity. 

There is one other huge benefit in going this far north, and that is the possibility of joining into the A36 at Knook Camp, close to the Warminster bypass - and possibly providing some relief to the A36 villages - at least from traffic travelling to or from the east of England.  Like this:

OK, it's far from ideal, but it is the route which requires the minimum purchase of undeveloped countryside and achieves just about everyone's desired outcomes.  The A303 proposal turns a 14.4 mile section of road into one 17 miles long - adding less than 3 minutes to the journey time.  Compare that with the 1-3 hours that 14 mile stretch has taken this summer.

Let the cries of outrage begin!