PRESS RELEASE

TAN statement on A303 Stonehenge approval

Today, the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, has given the go ahead to the dual carriageway and tunnel through the World Heritage Site at Stonehenge [1].

Rebecca Lush, TAN’s roads and climate campaigner, said:

“Just as the Climate Change Committee has recommended that new roads should be reviewed, Mark Harper seems to be in denial by giving the go-ahead to the Stonehenge dual carriageway through the World Heritage Site. National Highways admit the scheme would increase carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes over its lifetime at a time when we need to rapidly reduce emissions. This decision flies in the face of the evidence on climate change and the recommendations of the climate change committee, and will devastate the World Heritage Site.”

– ENDS –

Notes to Editors

[1] Decision Letter by Mark Harper, Transport Secretary

[2] Emissions from additional traffic are 1,956,000 tonnes, Table 6-6, of the Combined Modelling and Appraisal report, National Highways, October 2018

Emissions from construction are 466,900 tonnes, Table 14.14 of the Climate chapter of the Environmental Statement, National Highways, October 2018

[3] More information on the Stonehenge Alliance website