A303 Stonehenge Tunnel | Court case has begun to determine lawfulness of planning decision

24 06 2021

A three day court hearing to scrutinise the planning approval of the £1.7bn Stonehenge Tunnel road scheme began on the 23rd June and ends on 25th June.

The legal challenge has been brought by campaign group Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS), which believes the proposals will have a detrimental impact on the ancient site and is seeking permission for a judicial review of the project.

Mr Justice Holgate said the court would not be considering the merits of the tunnel itself, but only whether the transport secretary had acted unlawfully.

Campaigners supporting SSWHS’s legal challenge lined up outside the court buildings carrying banners and playing drums. Senior druid Arthur Uther Pendragon said he was there to “show druid support” for the challenge.

The Stonehenge site, together with Avebury, which is also in Wiltshire, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1986.

The proposed tunnel is part of a major investment in the A303, between Amesbury and Berwick Down, which is a popular route for motorists travelling to and from the south west and runs within a few hundred metres of the site.

Highways England said its plan for the tunnel will remove the sight and sound of traffic passing the site and cut journey times.

The project is classified as nationally significant, which means a development consent order from the Transport Secretary is needed for it to go ahead.

STONEHENGE A303 TUNNEL NEWS:

Stonehenge Tunnel Judicial Review: High Court case – Salisbury Journal
Stonehenge tunnel: Minister acted ‘unlawfully’ – BBC News
‘Vigil for Stonehenge’ held outside Royal Courts of Justice – Salisbury Journal
Court case begins to determine lawfulness of planning decision – New Civil Engineer
Unesco warns that Stonehenge will go on its danger list unless plans to build tunnel beneath it are modified – The Art Newspaper
Outrage as High Court denies NCE journalists access to hearing – New Civil Engineer
Stonehenge road tunnel go-ahead unlawful, high court told – The Guardian
Wiltshire people share thoughts on A303 Stonehenge tunnel benefits.- Stonehenge News Blog
The Knotty Problem of the A303 and Stonehenge.- Stonehenge News Blog
The Stonehenge Tunnel Debate – the good, the bad, and the ugly – Stonehenge News Blog

The Stonehenge News Blog
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Stonehenge News
http://www.Stonehenge.News


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: ,
Categories : Uncategorized

Unauthorised gathering at Stonehenge this morning and live feed of summer solstice sunrise ‘pulled for safety reasons’

21 06 2021

There was an unauthorised gathering in the stone circle this morning. Security and police were extremely patient and understanding to avoid any unnecessary trouble. English Heritage pulled a live feed of the summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge after people disregarded advice not to travel to the site.

We have been disappointed that a number of people have chosen to disregard our request to not travel to the stones this morning

Druids did not enter the Stone Circle, respected the restrictions and remained on National Trust property close to the monument. Normally, up to 30,000 people would gather to watch the sun rise over the stones on the longest day of the year, but it was a virtual event for the second consecutive year. The monument was preparing to welcome visitors in person until the Government delayed the easing of lockdown into July, with English Heritage calling on people to watch their live-streams.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Live feed of summer solstice sunrise at Stonehenge ‘pulled for safety reasons’ – Evening Standard
Summer solstice Stonehenge feed ‘pulled for safety reasons’ – BBC News
Police called to summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge – Evening Standard
Summer Solstice event at Stonehenge pulled as people ignore Covid rules – Wales Online

The Stonehenge News Blog
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Stonehenge News
http://www.Stonehenge.News


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags:
Categories : Uncategorized

Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebrations Cancelled. The sunset and sunrise will now be live-streamed.

16 06 2021

The 2021 summer solstice celebrations at Wiltshire’s Stonehenge have been cancelled as England’s ‘Freedom Day‘ is delayed by four weeks due to the rise in cases of the Indian variant. In a bid to control the spread of the new strain, the Government has now pushed back stage 4 of its roadmap.

ENGLISH HERITAGE STATEMENT:

With this week’s news that the Government is delaying the lifting of the remaining Covid-19 restrictions on 21 June and following discussions with Wiltshire Council’s Public Health team and Wiltshire Police, English Heritage has taken the extremely difficult decision to cancel the planned Summer Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge this year.

SUMMER SOLSTICE IN THE NEWS

Stonehenge summer solstice event cancelled for a second year – BBC News
‘Left with no choice’ – Solstice event cancelled second year in a row – Salisbury Journal
Summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge officially cancelled – This is Wiltshire

The sunset and sunrise will be live-streamed for free as the virtual celebrations proved very popular last year.

Traditionally about 10,000 people have gathered at the Neolithic monument in Wiltshire, on or around 21 June, to mark midsummer, however English Heriatge were expecting numbers to exceed 40,000 this year as many festivals and events have already been cancelled due to coronavirus restictions.

Please do not travel to Stonehenge this summer solstice, watch it online instead. The National Trust has also closed Avebury and asked visitors “not to travel to the area”. Wiltshire Police said officers would have a “presence in the areas of both Stonehenge and Avebury” and local authorities warned people to stay away.

Visit the English Heritage website for updates.

Celebrations take place every year on or around June 21 at Stonehenge, a monument built on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and the midwinter sunset.

On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone, the ancient entrance to the Stone Circle, and rays of sunlight are channelled into the centre of the monument.

It is believed that solstices have been celebrated at Stonehenge for thousands of years.

Summer solstice takes place as one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the sun and the sun reaches its highest position in the sky, ensuring the longest period of daylight of the year.

RELEVANT SOLSTICE LINKS:
Summer Solstice 2021 – National Trust facilities at Avebury closed overnight – National Trust
Summer solstice 2021: everything you need to know about the longest day of the year – The Telegraph
The Legendary Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebration. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Stonehenge News
Stonehenge: Summer Solstice 2021 to go ahead as normal. Salisbury Journal
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. From Past to Present. Stonehenge New Blog
Attending the Stonehenge 2021 Summer Solstice. English Heritage
Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tours and Transprort – The Stonehenge Tour Company
Why Thousands Of Pagans Gather At Stonehenge For The Solstice Stonehenge News Blog
Respect the Stones: Stonehenge News Blog

The Stonehenge News Blog
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Stonehenge and Summer Solstice updates
http://www.Stonehenge.News


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Uncategorized

Celebrate Summer Solstice at Stonehenge again this year – LIVE STREAM

6 06 2021

You can stream this year’s summer solstice live from Stonehenge. English Heritage will be live-streaming the sunset and sunrise for free so that those who cannot join in person or feel nervous about attending an event with lots of people, may still enjoy the occasion from the comfort and safety of their own home.

English Heritage will livestream two solstice events for free via its Facebook page. Tune in to catch the sunset on June 20 and the sunrise on June 21.

RELEVANT SUMMER SOLSTICE LINKS:
Summer Solstice will return to Stonehenge 2021. Stonehenge News Blog
The Legendary Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebration. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. Stonehenge News
Stonehenge: Summer Solstice 2021 to go ahead as normal. Salisbury Journal
Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. From Past to Present. Stonehenge New Blog
Attending the Stonehenge 2021 Summer Solstice. English Heritage
Stonehenge Summer Solstice Tours and Trasnprort – The Stonehenge Tour Company
Why Thousands Of Pagans Gather At Stonehenge For The Solstice Stonehenge News Blog
Respect the Stones: Stonehenge News Blog

The Stonehenge News Blog
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest Stonehenge and Summer Solstice updates
http://www.Stonehenge.News


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Uncategorized