Representation by Gillian Swanton BA, DipAdEd, FSA
- Date submitted
- 11 January 2019
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Under the terms of the Inscription for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, the Associated Monuments and the settings of all of these, whether above or below ground are regarded as being integral to the status of the landscapes involved as the stone circles and their adjunct features. The A303 proposals have concentrated on the eastern part of the Stonehenge area and threaten the integrity of the western and arguably just as, if not more important, area in the development of the prehistoric use of the landscape. The destruction of the integrity of the western part of the area is irreversible and could destroy more than the swathe of landscape through which the road is planned to pass, it would also destroy evidence which could be investigated by future scientific and as yet unknown but non-destructive methods.
Consultation with the archaeological profession as a whole, not just the statutorarily required bodies, was from the start inadequate. When examining a project with such far reaching implications the failure to discuss the issues with the professionals who have researched and published on the area must appear to organisations such as UNESCO and ICOMOS rather irresponsible. The S&A WHS has a respected Research Group (ASAHRG), upon which the professionals who work on WHS projects sit. This Group was not consulted during the early stages of the project, which would have been appropriate.
It is also necessary to consider the long-term status of the WHS as a whole. If the relevant authorities consider that the proposed works will, as a result of the destruction proposed in the western area of the A303 project, put the WHS on the Endangered List, this will take Avebury with it. There is considerable concern about this which is totally justified. Why should half of the WHS suffer because in fact most of the traffic problems along the A303 past Stonehenge are due to motorists slowing up to look at the stone monument? The latter statement is based on personal and independent observation.
Gillian Swanton BA DipAdEd, FSA Co-chair ASAHRG Member, Avebury WHS Steering Committee