The Regional Assembly and the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) are alarmed that proposals to tackle congestion on the A303 by digging a by-pass tunnel at Stonehenge were thrown out by the Government today.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has scrapped plans for new route because it says the £550m needed to implement the scheme wouldn't represent best use of taxpayers money. This decision also has implications for other parts of the route including the A358 which links the A303 to the M5.

The A303 at Stonehenge is a major challenge for transport planners in the UK. It is a crucial route joining London and the South West and carries thousands of vehicles per day just metres away from the World Heritage Site.

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In response to today's decision, Assembly Member Cllr Julian Johnson, chair of the Regional Transport said: “The Assembly is concerned that this decision, now it has finally been made, does nothing for the South West or for our national heritage. Scrapping plans for an alternative route means there will be no resolution to either congestion on the A303 or heritage issues at Stonehenge.

"The announcement may even jeopardise the delivery of carefully worked out transport priorities for the South West, which include improvements to the A303 and the A358 to create the ‘second strategic route’ which Government previously approved."

Assembly Member Cllr Mike Bawden, chair of the Regional Planning Group and Regional Transport Board Member added: "We all know the A303 is an extremely important national and regional route. It is a key artery for business and tourism and significant improvements are required along its whole length. The single carriageway section at Stonehenge is just one place where improvements to rail connections are vital to the future success and growth of the South West."

The Assembly and the RDA will now enter discussions with other regional partners and the Regional Minister Ben Bradshaw to establish a way forward for the region.

Both organisations will be calling for meetings with Transport Minister Tom Harris MP to discuss this decision in detail.

(JM)