Historian says if ‘Britain trashes their world heritage sites, it bodes badly for the rest of the world’

They are a disparate bunch. Archaeologists, environmentalists, historians, transport experts, countryside campaigners and druids.

But they will come together in the Strand in central London on Tuesday with a common purpose: to stop the bulldozers from, in their mind, wreaking havoc at one of the UK’s most iconic sites.

They will try to convince the high court over three days that the government’s plan to build a two-mile road tunnel close to the great circle of Stonehenge will permanently disfigure a unique and globally important landscape.

“It’s David and Goliath stuff,” said John Adams, the chair of the Stonehenge Alliance, which has fought against the tunnel and other road projects around the stones for more than 20 years. Though lots of disciplines are represented, they lack the heft of the government machine. “We’re up against the might of the Department for Transport, National Highways and so on. We’re a small organisation – mostly retired people. But the court case is critical. It’s the only thing keeping the earth diggers away,” he said.

  • Gamers_Mate@kbin.social
    411·
    11 months ago

    Wtf this is the the actual Stonehenge?
    I thought the government would be protective of that because it brings in tourists?

    • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
      69·
      11 months ago

      You have to remember that the British government does not have any competent people left. They’re down to the dregs, in it for ego or self-enrichment, not any real attempt to govern well.

      • Diplomjodler@feddit.deEnglish
        36·
        11 months ago

        It’s worse than that. “Conservatives” enjoy destruction. If being conservative meant anything at all, conserving a site like Stonehenge would be a no-brainer. But no. They like to fuck up everything and then screech about how they’re being victimised.

    • thehatfox@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      11 months ago

      I’ve heard some people claim the project would enhance the site by “hiding” the road. Completely ignoring the enormous amount of damage that would be done to area’s archeological significance.

        • GBU_28@lemm.eeEnglish
          5·
          11 months ago

          There could be countless archeological objects in the surrounding area. So digging for no good reason is a bad idea.

          Though I don’t know if any specific stability risk, the vibrations and disturbance from construction is a non zero (but probably low) risk to the stability of the site.

          Also roads create pollution, which in general should try to be kept as far as possible from natural or ancient archeological sites.

          • Nighed@sffa.communityEnglish
            61·
            11 months ago

            I think a lot of money has been spent looking at the area to confirm there isn’t anything in its way - one of the other comments has a link about how everything was paused for 4 months when they did find something nearby.

            If they can dig a tube tunnel through some of the places in london that they did for crossrail, this isn’t going to be a problem.

            There is already an A-road there, one that is normally practically stationary due to how the road narrows there. by sticking it in a tunnel it saves the immediate area from the pollution. Hopefully as we electrify more vehicles that will get even better too.

            For reference - this is how close the road currently is - getting it underground will make the immediate area much nicer.

          • sunbeam60@lemmy.oneEnglish
            2·
            11 months ago

            And you expect them to carry on digging if they find invaluable archeological artefacts?

              • sunbeam60@lemmy.oneEnglish
                1·
                11 months ago

                With great respect that’s not how works happen in archaeologically sensitive areas. There’ll be a full search done ahead of earth works.

        • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
          6·
          11 months ago

          Much of the value of the site lies underground. It’s a rich area for archaeology where significant and surprising discoveries are still being made. This is part of what makes it a World Heritage Site.

          • Nighed@sffa.communityEnglish
            41·
            11 months ago

            It’s on a big hill, the archeology isn’t going to be more than 10m deep right? The only issue will therefore be at the entrance and exit?

            I assume that they put the portals in ‘empty’ places and will have archeologists at the site to confirm they are not digging things up. (And have/are studying the area more)

    • Random DentEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I think the idea is that currently you can see Stonehenge from the road if you drive past it, whereas if they make the road into a tunnel you can’t see it for free. This will cost a fortune, waste everyone’s time, bring no benefits and make a few people’s lives worse for no reason other than small-minded pettiness, thus fulfilling the Tory government’s primary mandate.

      • Gamers_Mate@kbin.social
        101·
        11 months ago

        That is disappointing especially after what happened to Sycamore Gap.

        Maybe if it is not to heavy the British Museum can steal it to keep it safe. /s

    • Nighed@sffa.communityEnglish
      44·
      11 months ago

      If they dig under it, then there is very little effect and it gets rid of the busy, noisy and slow main road that goes right by it.

      I’m getting downvoted - what damage are you worried about?