www.stonehenge-druids.org

Our comment:

 

We would very much like to thank Sebastian for this update and the detailed insight into the consultation process and progress that it provides. I think that everyone interested in the reburial issue should find this to be of interest and welcome the open and forthright approach taken, and respect shown by communicating with us proactively in this way.

 

Frank

News Page 9 - 13th May 2009

 

 

Stonehenge New Visitor Centre,

A big step closer.

 

The prime minister announced in Parliament today that the long awaited £25 million plan for closure of the A344 and opening of a new visitor centre at ‘Airmans corner’ about a mile and a half west of the stones. The finance will come from English Heritage, Lottery heritage fund and the Highways Agency, plus some private sources.

 

This announcement does not guarantee that the project will go ahead, it still needs planning permission, agreement on a design, and cash to be raised. Following the abandonment of the previous plan in 2007 which was budgeted at £500 million (Including the cost of a tunnel), and mounting pressure from UNESCO and the Druids we believe that this time the project will get the approvals required.

 

Arthur Pendragon who has been protesting for the new visitor centre project to proceed

since the Autumn of last year has said that ‘this is great news’, and he believes that the world wide publicity brought to the plight of Stonehenge by his protest and recent eviction order (granted by Wiltshire County Court) may account for the timing of this announcement.

 

In addition to better facilities this plan when implemented will re-unite the ancient landscape to the north which is packed with interesting features, with the great Stonehenge itself. People should be able to walk between the two.

Our Comment

 

It remains to be seen if £25 million will be sufficient to produce the kind of classy facilities (Such as those for Knowth and Newgrange in Ireland) that will complement the environment and the pride of British prehistoric achievement. The previous budget for the aborted 2007 plan visitor centre was £67 million, and we believe that more than £25 million has already been wasted ‘talking’ about this so far.

 

This cannot be just a steel and glass box, Stonehenge deserves the very best.

 

With all that said, we are delighted with this development and would like to acknowledge the dedication of Peter Carcen and his team at English Heritage for working tirelessly in bringing this about, Arthur and Caz of course for keeping this in the public eye, all the Druids who wrote letters and attended meetings with the authorities (never giving up), all those who signed Arthur’s petition and the politicians for finally reaching a decision.

 

The Stonehenge Druids will continue to scrutinise and contribute to this as it progresses. and we hope that room will be allocated at the new visitor centre site for spiritual facilities in situ, and that the changes this brings will be honouring to the great achievements of our ancestors and of the importance of Stonehenge today.

 

Frank