Stonehenge NOT deemed as 'heritage at risk' by UNESCO
They've rejected a recommendation to class the monument site as being 'in danger'
Last updated 24th Jul 2024
The UN's cultural agency, UNESCO has rejected a recommendation that Stonehenge should be placed on a list of endangered world heritage sites.
Experts had proposed classifying it as being at risk, because of plans of the A303 tunnel plans, close to the 5-thousand year-old stone circle.
A committee's decided today (Wednesday 24th July) that sufficient plans are in place to mitigate the effects.
The project, which is due to cost around £3 billion would see the road dualled and put into a two mile long tunnel, around 200m further away from the monument than the current road.
There'd also be road improvements from Amesbury, at Longbarrow roundabout for the Stonehenge visitor centre, and for the village of Winterbourne Stoke.
Campaigners have called for the plans to be scrapped on environmental grounds and discrepancies in the planning process.
A High Court hearing's been held for a judge to decide if the scheme can go ahead - with a ruling due later in the summer.
The Stonehenge Alliance say they're 'shocked' that UNESCO hasn't placed the World Heritage Site on the danger list.
John Adams, chair of the Stonehenge Alliance and one of the 3 directors of the Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site group, said:
“This is a dark day for Stonehenge and a hollow victory for the UK government as this decision won’t stop the harm to the World Heritage Site. We should not forget that this scheme failed the planning test. It was recommended for refusal because of the ‘permanent and irreversible’ harm it would do.
“After their promises of change and greater integrity in politics, we hope that the new Labour government will distance itself from the shocking goings on in New Delhi. Otherwise people will assume it was behind the untrue statements that helped sway the debate.”
Tom Holland, president of the Stonehenge Alliance, said:
“This is a travesty of justice. The weakness of the Government’s case can be measured by the grotesque lengths they have gone to in their attempts to cover it up. If Labour ministers are complicit in this, then it disgraces them.”
A Government spokesperson said:
“We care passionately about the UK's heritage, especially our iconic World Heritage Sites, with Stonehenge being one of our oldest and most celebrated sites.
“We welcome the Committee’s decision not to place Stonehenge on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
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