Representation by Belinda Twiggs
- Date submitted
- 8 January 2019
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am writing to register my objection to the A303 Expressway on the Stonehenge World Heritage Site, my reasons are many fold and varied, but in the main contain a sense of responsibility for something of global historic importance and a perspective that goes further than short term provision for fossil fuel traffic usage. Also the significance of an awareness of our responsibility to leave our world better than the one we were born with.
I object because;
-the landscape is unique and profoundly historic, treasured by people the world over.
-UNESCO has advised that the plans should not go ahead in their present format and described the area as a ‘landscape without parallel’
-there are concerns that the disturbance could damage the Blick Mead Mesolithic site and its setting
-there does not appear to have been enough research into alternative plans, therefore suggesting that the recommendations from UNESCO are being ignored
-a type of 'privitisation' of the view of the Stones, as they would no longer be visible- from the road currently planned, viewing only by paid admission
-disturbance to the habitat for the Schedule 1 species of ground nesting birds, Stone Curlew, and impact on the reintroduction scheme for Great Bustard
Globally, experts are warning of the Holocene Extinction, the 6th on our planet since life existed. In a time when apex species are becoming extinct daily, we have an even greater responsibility to turn towards conservation and protection scenarios and not just the short term cheapest option. "In November 2017, a statement, titled "World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Second Notice", led by eight authors and signed by 15,364 scientists from 184 countries asserted that, among other things, "we have unleashed a mass extinction event, the sixth in roughly 540 million years, wherein many current life forms could be annihilated or at least committed to extinction by the end of this century.""
We must show greater responsibility for our actions, or history will show us those who sold off our children's future. It begs the loud response 'Not on my watch!'