Latest legal bid in Stonehenge tunnel scheme begins

The latest legal bid to overturn the approval for a road tunnel near to Stonehenge is due to start later.

The scheme, by the former Conservative government, includes overhauling eight miles of the A303 in Wiltshire and has faced numerous legal challenges by campaigners such as Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS), since it was first approved in 2020.

The next legal hurdle is expected to last three days and will take place at the Court of Appeal in London.

John Adams, from SSWHS, also known as Stonehenge Alliance, said they will argue that reasons to dismiss their previous challenge in February, were wrong.

Mr Adams also called on the newly elected Labour government to scrap the scheme, which has cost over £160m so far, despite work on the ground not yet starting.

Mr Adams said cancelling the project "would spare our international blushes and rebuild this country’s reputation for looking after its heritage.”

When asked about his stance on the project during the election campaign, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to commit to the scheme and said his government would only make a decision once the legal proceedings had been completed.

Government-owned National Highways said the scheme, which is backed by Wiltshire Council and involves overhauling eight miles of the major road from London to South West England, would cut journey times and remove the sight and sound of traffic passing the World UNESCO site.

Preparatory work had expected to begin on Salisbury Plain in May but has been delayed due to the latest legal challenge.

The Court of Appeal hearing comes days before a UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, which will decide whether to put the historic monument on its danger list.

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