Legal action to 'stop' A303 Stonehenge tunnel
Fresh fight against recently approved road scheme
Campaign group, The Stonehenge Alliance, have stepped up their offensive and are now questioning the lawfulness of the Secretary of State's decision to approve the controversial A303 Stonehenge dual carriageway.
'Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site' a new organisation set up by The Stonehenge Alliance, has now instructed counsel and the London based law firm - Leigh Day - to investigate.
A letter was sent on Friday (27 Nov 2020) to the Department for Transport outlining its concerns.
POTENTIALLY COSTLY LEGAL BATTLE
'Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site' are also launching an appeal on 'CrowdJustice' to raise ÂŁ50,000 to cover the initial costs of the legal action.
STONEHENGE TUNNEL A DIVISIVE ISSUE
There's no doubt that the decision by the Secretary of State, Grant Shapps, to approve the ÂŁ1.7 billion scheme earlier this month sent shock waves around the world.
The approval was made despite the Examination Panel recommending that the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel scheme should be refused.
In its report The Examination Panel had said:
"...the adverse impacts of the Proposed Development would strongly outweigh its benefits... the conclusion reached is that development consent should not be granted."
The Examination Panel also said in the light of its findings and conclusions on important and relevant matters set out in its Report, the Secretary of State should not make an Order granting development consent for the application.
Tom Holland, Stonehenge Alliance President, supports the legal action:
"I fully back the move to test whether Grants Shapps acted legally in approving this highly wasteful and destructive road scheme. The Government has ignored advice from both UNESCO 6 and the independent panel who presided over a six-month examination. To have won the arguments based on reason and evidence, and then to have them overruled on a ministerial whim, shows just how broken the roads approval process is."
"I urge everyone who cares about the Stonehenge World Heritage Site to support this legal action. There is still a chance to stop the bulldozers moving in and vandalising our most precious and iconic prehistoric landscape."