Council calls plans to remove Stonehenge Tunnel consent "unacceptable"
The Development Consent Order removal would be a major setback, according to the Leader of Wiltshire Council
The leader of Wiltshire Council has told us of his frustrations at Government plans to revoke a development consent order (DCO) for the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel.
Cllr Ian Thorn has described the decision as "unacceptable", and is urging the Government to reconsider its plans.
The long planned project was halted in July 2024, shortly after Sir Kier Starmer became Prime Minister, on grounds of cost.
But now the Department for Transport is proposing a removal of the DCO, issuing a draft, with people and organisations able to make representations up to 21st November, with a final decision due at a later date.
Should the DCO be removed, it would mean any future Government wanting to proceed with the project would need to start the process from the beginning again.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, Cllr Thorn said: "It really does, I think bringing to question the government's commitment to Wiltshire and indeed connectivity through the southwest of England."
He also said that the Government has done very little to facilitate discussions on alternative solutions, insisting: "Our representation to the Government will reflect this in the strongest possible terms."
Cllr Thorn told us the consequences of the decision would be "far-reaching", saying it would leave local people facing gridlock on a regular basis and make it harder of businesses to trade on the A303 corridor.
He cited other dual carriageway's being built in Somerset: ". If it's good enough for Somerset, surely these projects are good enough for Wiltshire too?"
The Council Leader added: "This is not just a setback - it's a complete step backwards for a region that is severely lacking in Government investment compared to other parts of the country. Wiltshire deserves better, the South West deserves better, and we will continue to fight for the infrastructure our communities need and deserve."
He's urged Transport Secretary, Swindon South MP, Heidi Alexander, to rethink the decision.
"If you want to see growth through the South of England and this of course connects the southwest of the South and onto London, it's really vital that these investments take place," he said.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we had to make difficult decisions about a number of road projects as they were unfunded or unaffordable.
"We remain committed to investing in projects that deliver for the taxpayer and drive growth, which is why we are investing nearly £5 billion in this year alone on our Strategic Road Network to support its maintenance, enhancement, and ensure smoother journeys."