Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Loraine Knowles, Project Manager for English Heritage.

The Chairman welcomed Martin Harvey (Project Development Manager, English Heritage), who was attending in place of Loraine Knowles, to give an update on the Stonehenge Visitor Centre project.

Martin summarised the proposals, confirming that Airman’s Corner remained the site of the proposed visitor centre and exhibitions. This plan incorporated the closure of the A344 from Stonehenge bottom to Byway 12, and improvements to the Airman’s Corner junction. In conjunction with these proposals, Wiltshire Council would seek traffic orders to restrict motorised vehicles on the A344 from Byway 12 to Airman’s Corner, and on Byways 11 and 12. The Highways Agency had made a commitment to undertake improvements to the Longbarrow Roundabout on the A303, although this was currently under review following the Government announcement.

In June the Government had announced a series of cuts, including the withdrawal of £10 million funding for the Stonehenge Visitor Centre project.  Following strong support from the press and public, English Heritage had decided to explore alternative sources of funding and to complete the current planning and design phase of the project using money raised from private sources.

Current and on-going activities included:

• Completion of the current design phase and on-ongoing review of costs.
• Submission of the application for the A344 Stopping-up Order in August – this would shortly be subject to a public consultation and possibly a public inquiry.
• Submission of Scheduled Monument Consent application for A344 works at The Avenue and nearby burial mound.
• Round two funding application submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in August.
• Revision of the Business Case for the project.

The revised Business Case would be submitted to the Government in late 2010.  Subject to approval of this, and to funding commitments being secured, work could begin on the site in 2012, with the new centre opening in 2013.  As the original target completion deadline of the 2012 London Olympics would no longer be met, any on-going works would be scheduled to minimise disruption around that period, as an increase in the usual seasonal visitor numbers was anticipated.

Martin concluded by commenting that English Heritage would be happy to arrange one-to-one meetings with any local organisations concerned about the A344 closure, as part of the forthcoming public consultation. Input on other aspects of the project was also welcomed, and any comments or concerns could be raised via Karen Linaker.

The Chairman thanked Martin for his presentation and invited questions and comments:

• It was noted that the improvements to the Longbarrow roundabout were necessary if the A344 was to close. Following the Government announcement in June the Highways Agency had stopped working on that project and had indicated that more would be known after the government’s spending review in Autumn.

• Martin confirmed that English Heritage was in discussions with landowners of the private land required for the scheme.

• In response to a comment over the use of kilometres to express distance in an English Heritage leaflet, Martin undertook to feed this back to colleagues.

• A view was expressed that, regardless of plans for the new centre, some money should be spent on improving the existing facilities.  Martin commented that some work had been undertaken (including an access ramp) and more improvements were planned (including works to the toilets).  However, a balance was required between keeping the site in good order and avoiding excessive spending on facilities that English Heritage hoped to decommission in the very near future.