Stonehenge visitor plan approved
Report from BBC Online News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6507963.stm
Thursday, 29 March 2007
English Heritage's plans for a new Stonehenge visitor centre have been given conditional approval.
In a letter Secretary of State Ruth Kelly said the scheme could only go ahead once the government had approved the published A303 roads scheme.
English Heritage is now urging the government to give its approval for the road plans "without further delay".
"Failure to do so would miss out on a opportunity to do the right thing for Stonehenge and its visitors," it said.
The published scheme, one of the road options being considered by the government, includes a flyover at Countess Road, a 2.1km bored tunnel, a bypass round Winterbourne Stoke and junction improvements at Longbarrow Crossroads.
Both the published scheme and the new visitor facilities need to be delivered in full if the UK is to fulfil its responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention, English Heritage said.
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Proposed new Visitors' Centre for English Heritage
English Heritage do not consider it possible to redevelop the current visitor
facilities at Stonehenge as this contravenes the objectives of the
World Heritage Site Management Plan (pdf file). Following several years of studies and consultation, a new site has been chosen at Countess East, 3 km from Stonehenge. It is just outside the World Heritage Site and is easy to reach by road or public transport.
Plan of the new Visitors' Centre showing overall layout and roadtrain turn round point
with entrance to road train tunnel under Countess Road - English Heritage
We are told that the new visitor centre building will blend into the landscape and make no reference to Stonehenge itself. Internationally renowned architects Denton Corker Marshall have designed a building that is cut into the grassy landscape, with a long sweeping front wall and a single entrance. Visitors will pass through a succession of similar curved walls on their journey towards Stonehenge. The roof will be planted with strips of grass. From the adjoining road, the building will appear to be below ground.
Artist's impression of the new Visitors' Centre from car park access road - English
Heritage
We are also told by EH that, inside, the visitor centre will offer world-class
facilities. There will be exhibitions and audio-visual presentations to help visitors enjoy and
understand Stonehenge. There will also be high quality catering, a shop and dedicated space for
educational groups.
English Heritage tell us that environmentally-friendly land trains will be
available to take visitors from Countess East to drop-off points within walking distance of the
Stone Circle. The land train route will be non-intrusive and entirely removable should future
generations wish to do so. Electric Wheelchairs will be available for less able visitors
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