Residents criticise ‘extremely short-sighted’ decision to scrap Stonehenge Tunnel

The project, intended to improve traffic flow and boost connectivity between London and the southwest, was called off without an alternative plan, disappointing many in the region.

Carolyn MacDougall, a resident of Berwick St James and the parish council’s village clerk, highlighted how the decision has impacted local life.

Carolyn MacDougallCarolyn MacDougall (Image: Contributed)

“We get used a lot for when there are hold-ups on the A303,” she explained. “The only way to get anywhere is via the A303.”

Carolyn moved to the village 14 years ago seeking a quiet environment, but traffic problems have increasingly affected the area.

From April to July this year, during preparations for the now-cancelled tunnel, the A360 was closed, and Berwick St James was used as a diversion route, leading to a fourfold increase in traffic, including heavy vehicles according to Carolyn.

The decision has also stalled plans for a bypass in Winterbourne Stoke, which would have eased regular congestion.

Last week, 16 residents from surrounding villages, including Shrewton, Amesbury, and Bulford, met to discuss the cancellation, agreeing that addressing the traffic situation is essential.

A letter from Berwick St James Parish Council to the Journal added: “One might well question this government’s decision as being extremely short-sighted in trying to cancel the project due to costs alone and not looking at the wider picture nor the longer-term economic benefits, job opportunities and growth.

“We hope this Labour government will reconsider the cancellation of such a vital road scheme and to address the importance for a solution to these bottleneck issues in order to open up growth for the whole of the southwest.”

Many local councils, businesses, and organisations like The National Trust and English Heritage supported the tunnel project, seeing it as a long-term solution for improving transport links in the region.

The Stonehenge section of the A303, one of the first single carriageway stretches west of London, is a well-known bottleneck.

The latest plan was part of a series of proposals dating back to the 1970s, many of which were abandoned. With £166 million already spent on planning and feasibility studies, starting over would require significant additional time and resources.

Residents like Carolyn and others in the area are now hoping for a new approach to tackle the ongoing traffic issues.

They believe that without action, the region will continue to struggle with the same problems it has faced for decades. “Doing nothing is never going to be an option,” said one local attendee at the recent community meeting. 

Salisbury Journal | News