Latest legal bid to stop A303 Stonehenge tunnel project begins
Photo credits: National Highways
The project has encountered several legal obstacles, with the most recent one set to begin in the Court of Appeal soon.
The most recent attempt to challenge the approval of a road tunnel near Stonehenge is set to begin soon.
The plan, created by the previous Conservative administration, involves redesigning a section of the A303 in Wiltshire that spans eight miles. This project has been met with various legal objections from groups like Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS) ever since it was initially given the green light in 2020.
The upcoming legal challenge is projected to go on for three days and is set to occur at the Court of Appeal in London.
John Adams, a member of the Stonehenge Alliance, mentioned that they plan to challenge the dismissal of their previous lawsuit in February. They believe that the grounds for the dismissal were incorrect.
Mr. Adams also urged the recently elected Labour government to abandon the program, which has already used up more than £160 million, even though actual work has not begun on the project.
Mr. Adams stated that halting the project would help us avoid embarrassment on a global scale and restore our nation's reputation for preserving our heritage.
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was questioned about his opinion on the project. He declined to give a firm answer and stated that his government would wait until the legal cases were finished before making a decision.
Activists who are against building a road tunnel near Stonehenge have successfully gained the opportunity to contest the results of a legal review that took place in May.
National Highways, a government agency, announced that a project supported by Wiltshire Council will improve eight miles of a major road connecting London to the South West of England. This initiative aims to reduce travel times and minimize the noise and visual impact of traffic near a World UNESCO site.
The initial plans to start work on Salisbury Plain in May have been pushed back because of a new legal obstacle.
The Court of Appeal session is happening shortly before a UNESCO World Heritage Committee gathering, where they will determine if they will include the ancient landmark on their list of endangered sites.
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