Fatality fear without Stonehenge road improvements

A retired firefighter said "fatalities will continue" on the A303 at Stonehenge without plans to improve the road.

It has been two years since a two-mile tunnel scheme at the world heritage site was scrapped by the government , despite hopes it would ease congestion by widening the road and removing the view of Stonehenge.

Paul Jaycock, former station officer at Amesbury Fire station said: "I started here in 1981, we were all assured there would be improvements.. we just haven't got anywhere with it."

The Department of Transport said it is "exploring ways of improving the A303".

The £2bn project was scrapped by Labour in July 2024, shortly after they took power.

The project had faced a number of legal challenges from campaigners, but those in favour said it would have eased congestion past Stonehenge and reduced road collisions.

Jaycock said: "We used to attend road accidents and think 'when the tunnel gets here this may come to an end'... now here we are and nothing has happened."

According to Wiltshire Police, between 2015 and 2025 there were 105 road traffic collisions on the A303 near Stonehenge which resulted in injury. Of those, 22 were serious or fatal.

The A303 reduces to a single lane past the famous stone circle and Paul Jaycock said some drivers slow to look, and even take photos.

"I believe Stonehenge and the heritage side of this has taken many lives. It has, I've witnessed it," he said.

National Highways said, on average, 26,000 vehicles use this stretch of the A303 every day, increasing to more than 30,000 in August.

With planning for the tunnel revoked, Wiltshire Council leaders have urged the government to offer alternative solutions and a clear timeline for support for communities affected by congestion.

Graham Wright, an independent councillor for Durrington said he is "'disillusioned and disappointed" that "there's nothing on the table".

Local residents were invited to share ideas at a recent meeting in nearby Amesbury. Wright said "one idea is to put a bund with some trees down near Stonehenge, so traffic can't see the stones"

He added that longer term thinking is needed.

"All the governments are in there for four years and never get round to it ... let's dual this road," he said.

Wright, and other councillors believe the protection of the Stonehenge landscape too often trumps the needs of people living near by.

"More help from the world heritage site would be appreciated," he added.

A spokesperson from English Heritage said: "The current A303 does not work for those who care about Stonehenge, for those who drive on it, or for the local community."

They added: "We remain ready to engage constructively should future opportunities arise."

A Department of Transport spokesperson said: "We inherited a challenging financial picture and had to make difficult decisions about road projects that were unfunded or unaffordable."

They also said "evidence gathering" for alternative upgrades to the A303 would begin by the end of this year and the government was investing "£5bn this year in our motorways and key A-roads".

"National Highways is exploring ways to address safety and other concerns on the A303, at much lower-cost," they added.

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