Transport : proposals for a new by-pass at Stonehenge

9 Pages·1993·2.3 MB·English

by  Great Britain. Department of Transport

THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORT
Mi3UO
AMESBURY TO BERWICK DOWN
IMPROVEMENT
We Need Your Views
;,.ifeSAig.&l
INTRODUCTION
TheA303trunkroadformsastrategiclinkbetwer' - ondon,the M3andthesouth-
westofEngland. Muchoftheroutehasalread'/bfcen rnprovedtodualcarriageway
and schemes are being developed for the remaining sections.
ThisbrochureexplainstheproposalsforthesectionoftheA303betweenAmesbury
and Berwick Down in order that you can give us your views on the alternatives
currently underconsideration. An exhibition has also ^een arranged sothatyou
can consider the alternatives in more detail. Information about the exhibition is
given on the back of the brochure.
Amesburyto
BerwickDown Basingstoke
Improvement
Southarnptonf
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,*>,'^ ife. THE PROBLEM
WlSS^Si^4M illmum I IIXefTluH#liHiammmIWI
There is already a high volume oftraffic using the A303 and this is expected to
increase in the future. Ifthe road is not improved, congestion will get worse as
there are no suitable alternatives for this traffic.
The section of the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down runs through a
World Heritage Site and passes close to Stonehenge and other important
archaeological features. This makes the area one of special environmental
sensitivity with international significance.
Itisproposedtobuildanewdualcarriagewaytoreplacetheexisting roadbetween
Amesbury and Berwick Down. This will not only solve the problems caused by
increasingtrafficlevelsbutwill alsoprovidetheopportunitytoimprovethesetting
ofStonehengebymakingthenewroadlessintrusive. Theschemewould remove
trafficfromWinterbourneStokeandreduceconflictbetween localand longdistance
traffic.
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TRAFFIC KEY
Hightrafficflows, intensifiedduring
the summer months and at Possible Routes
v'/ weekends, causecongestion along
much of this section of the A303.
C:.?:\: LPaorntgibcaurlraorwpCrroosbsleRmosadso,ctchurrougaht End of Route Sections
Winterbourne Stokeandwherethe
IHB road changes from dual to single Possible Full Junction
carriageway at Amesbury and Possible Limited Junction
Berwick Down.
Significant numbers of accidents Existing Roads
occuratthejunctionswiththeA344 World Heritage Site
at Stonehenge Bottom and the
A360atLongbarrowCrossRoads, National Trust Land
and through Winterbourne Stoke.
The A303 currently offers a more National Nature Reserve
tdoirtehcetsroouutthe-fwoersttratfhfaicnfursoimngLtohnedMo4n SIintteereosftSpecial Scientific
and M5.
The upgrading of this section to WCionnsteerrvbaotuironneASrteoake
dual carriageway should roduc.e
sfc-
congestion and accidents. Existing Woodland
' Rivers
WINTERBOURNE
miles 0 1/2
STOKE
1
km
0 V2 1V2
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
ROUTES
‘ .a
^S]
After initial studies several routes
were considered sufficiently
^ A“• promising to be investigated. It
wasfoundthatthered, blue,yellow
and grey routes offered the best
solution.
These consultation routes have
The western half of the new road beendevelopedinenoughdetailto
would provide a by-pass for beidentifiedaspossiblealignments
Winterbourne Stoke. This would although they may be refined at a
leadtoasignificantenvironmental later stage in the light of detailed
improvement in the village with design orcommentsreceivedfrom
most ofthe traffic being removed. this consultation. Therefore the
plan shows only the approximate
Studieshaveshownthatarouteto location of the options.
the north of Winterbourne Stoke
would cause less damage to the Thefullschemecan beprovidedby
landscape, archaeology and any combination of red or blue
ecologythan a route to the south. Section 1, red or blue Section 2,
and yellow or grey.
V.
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Length Construction Economic Properties Properties LandTaken
Route Cost£m Return to be Within50m (minimum) EffectonArchaeology Fiffecl on thebnvirrjniiTient
(,miles), Demolished ofCentre Line Hectares
R(SEeDctio*’ond'. ’11 • '».r,. 'k <*-,. '’• '"Th•, „- . Good 1 1 Slicjhtdamagetoeailyfieldsyslaiiis M'dIfl.'”tIdottf'*SiduLc(K;rl:!oe;;H..(;nviolri.oisitealISaiSnnItdrau,nntiidiiloinvpNeo.rliilnlniIlWioililnonaiviltanliNilnaleluyWiniuitioinlio;Hint.inoSiotniokvieuo;t.tM‘.niortoidfr<i.nonramvnatdiinoiinpm-aSpAi'.i-r'!oevaoon-.l'a'.iaildottoyimaii<lanio.m/lv
BLUE 3.1 NoellecJonanyrncordodremains fIllioivdeiKia;a;i-i;i.ieioofim;.‘iaenoldlaialtldpIoalrlumtioMnediiniWiimnliemiphaocitiinoonSlalnodKfeoiainndirnpiover,'.ah-iyandanieniiy
(Seclion 1) (1.9) Good 0 0 11 HMfejdfiliicaeatseviirm.ipiaalctit'oinlnisfitoiivieiiii!WillmIvn.irlIlelyoiiiin^-Stokt,'fairtMavahonAtea
(RSEeDction 2) C1-.O6) 3 4 '‘^^"t^bod 0 0 / SlightdalmiHiaiiT.g"ei fieldsysteiTlS MH[Moioftrdoldedeururcacattotrriss;rvniiiormsinuptsaiaelaccltamnloodinnuaslfnitaoinnvpdeolilionltufiiWtlnlimolnVnnroiirilttnljheoyWiioilnrtWnrienntlSKmlihouokmieeii{Sanntoioskfne-itvtoakleio'n‘Aren."''^'.'^t'''-''’'a:m,''
(BSLeUctEion 2} .o1-.o6)- ^ ^ 0 Slightdamage!(.earlyfieldsystomr. .,.v. ',RMHMeocedd)doudfcu(ie3c';ri,eat-sfc;civnilioomsiiupspaaealccllainnootdnnruasilIirtaoinvnpdeolilionlnTuriWtliliionnvntoaeilritlnlteiryWo.ioulnrMlroWKedi;rnetlSrnetuatiotrkIexneensiCe.vomSenterosk,eiaSri;livocafk'teioolnHiAlrlc;Iaarm
kminninrimi»<— MluiionuMI UitMkHa aaiHMM
YELLOW Damagelobarrcw.earlyfieldsystems,anenclosure-; t'nnRi;6vesvisualandphysicallinkbetweenStonehengeandNormantonDown n*
(tu5n0n0eml) (2,6)-'.-’-4' ' ' 0 4 13 andaBronzeAcesettlement " si RCUtaeiudlisusecesesserxeiilksoutcmian:tgiaolnnodaoill;iiLiciospitoneldldouitMiiolnleisnattloen.aeSl.soenis.--h.te'vineijaeiii.e'foi .St,•one.hengeCntl.ige'.
..-a.,-- Damagetoearlyfieldsystems,flintscattoi:;. Visualandphy;.,i(:ailinkfjet'wr.'enSkanefiengeamiNmm..m'onDownam:imp'
GREY ._jm3 linearearthwork',andtho:NoriliKite ..NriaiawiorxaraeuduccitoiitmioudntohironflnioNrieosuiey-mtiaatnntdinotnaoirDunpo(oiwlislnluutiiho(n.;falta.rCelaorwuf-ihieclmijehas-imnderaietohighe||,.-(;ii.nUiu
czftefijycessevetancefor Ctoriefien(|«;CoSiage;:,
APOLOGY JUNCTIONS
In orderto improvetrafficflowand
safety, access to the new road
would be limited to a number of
junctions designed to modern
standards. Possible locations for
these junctions are:
- at Winterbourne Stoke to
provide access to the village,
- at Longbarrow Cross Roads
to connect with the A360, and
- at Stonehenge Bottom to
connect with the A344 and
existing A303.
LANDSCAPE
The area around Stonehenge is i:
one of the richest archaeological
landscapesin England. Theroutes
under consideration have been
developed onthebasisofavoiding
damage to archaeological sites W
where possible. The scheme
would also providethe opportunity
to improve the setting of
Stonehenge. Athoroughstudyhas
been made of ail recorded
archaeological information
including an enhanced survey of
aerial photographs. Initialfieldwork
has been undertaken. Further
detailed fieldwork is likely to be The landscape of the study area
necessaryoncethe preferred route is dominated by rolling chalk
is determined. downland of high scenic quality,
all of which is designated a
Special Landscape Area by
/" Wiltshire County Council.
STONEHENGE
VISITORS’ CENTRE This is characteristically an open
landscape with long distance
English Heritagehavesubmitted a views. There are substantial
planning application for a new blocks of woodland which form
visitors’ centre for Stonehenge. dramatic features in the open
This planning application includes landscape.
a proposal to close the A344 from Archaeologicalfeatures, especially
Airman’s Corner to Stonehenge those on the skyline, give the
Bottom. As the outcome of this landscapeaspecialvisualquality.
application is not known, both
alternative routesproposedforthe As well as the dry valleys typical
improvement of the A303 have of the chalk downland there are
been developed sothattheycould themoreenclosedfertileandwell
ho built with the A344 either open vegetatedvalleys along the River
or closed. Till and River Avon.
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INVESTlCiATFO
CrownCopyright1991
Alarge numberofpossiblerouteswereconsidered, runningasfarnorthasLarkhill
and as far south as Stapleford. It was possibleto discard many ofthese routes
for the following reasons:
major impact on the landscape or on archaeological sites
major impact on ecologically important sites
major impact on residential properties
MOD
constraints of operational interests
poor economic return
Thoseroutesstill underconsiderationareshownontheplan insidethisbrochure.
^ Vr • ..;Va. ~N
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Before selecting a preferred route forthe new road, we are seeking the views of
the public, local authorities and other interested bodies.
You can help by giving us your views on the routes shown or by suggesting an
alternative route. You can do this by completing the enclosed prepaid
questionnaire.
Thequestionnairecan behandedinattheexhibitionorreturnedtotheDepartment
of Transport in Bristol at the address overleaf.
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EXI
You are invited to attend an exhibition wher'e plans and information about the
various routes wil! be on display.
The exhibition will be held at : f
'i
Thursday 1 April 1993 1prn - 8pm
Antrobus House,
39 Salisbury Road, Friday 2 April 1993 10am ~ 8pm
Amesbury.
--^1 Saturday 3 April 1993 10am - 4pm
Admission is free
REMEMBER WE NEED YOUR VIEWS!
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Whenthe resultsofthisconsultation
have been carefully considered, the
Secretary of State for Transport wil!
announce his preferred route which
will then be developed in detail.
1 Oncethedesign hasbeencompleted,
proposals will be published and a
public inquiry may follow.
Thepresentconsultationisinaddition
toanypublicinquirywhichmayoccur
andanycommentyou makenowwill
notaffectyourrighttoobjectatalater
stage.
If you would like any further
information, please write to the
addressbeloworring Steven Selfon
Bristol [phone]
Furthercopiesofthisbrochure and questionnairecan beobtained freeofcharge
at the exhibition, from the Department of Transport at the address below or by
telephoning [phone]
Department of Transport
South West Construction Programme Division
Ffoom 415
Tollgate House
Houlton Street
Bristol BS2 9DJ Produced for
Ji mthemDepartment of Transport by:
rtmmms
THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORT
ConsultingEngineers
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ixHE DEPARTMENT
^iJOFTRANSPORT
Questionnaire
A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down improvement
Please read the consultation document, if possible visit the public exhibition and then
answer the following questions
:
Bearing in mind the needs ofthe localityas awhole, which THREE ofthe followingfactors doyou
considerthe most important in choosing aroute?
a Reducingtraffic congestion and
journeytime g Improving road safety
b Minimisingtheeffecton archaeology h Minimising theeffecton wildlife
c Achieving the bestvalue for money i oMninilmociaslinrgestihdeenetfsfects oftraffic
d Minimisingtheeffecton the landscape Anyotherfactor: please give details
j
e Minimisingtheeffecton agriculture
f Taking traffic awayfrom Stonehenge
Which route do you prefer? For each ofthethree sectionsshown below, pleasetickone box.
RED ROUTE (Section 1) or BLUE ROUTE (Section 1)
RED ROUTE (Section 2) or BLUE ROUTE(Section 2)
YELLOW ROUTE or GREY ROUTE
Ifyou think anyother routewould be better, pleasedescribe it heregiving reasons for yourchoice
and ifpossible please attach a plan showing your route.
4 YES NO
Did you visittheexhibition?
Did you find the exhibition helpful?
Please giveyour nameand addressin block capitals ^h0n yoU hdVG COmpi©t©d
this form, fold and post it
to reach us as soon as
possible and no later than
30th May 1993
The postage is already paid
Thank You
P.T.O.
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