LONDON: Years of protests from druids and archaeologists have failed to derail plans for a new road tunnel near Britain’s Stone Age site of Stonehenge, which received final approval from the government on Tuesday. The 1.8-mile tunnel is planned to reduce frequent congestion on a major east-west road axis across England and has a budget of £1.6 billion.
Officials have moved the planned route away from the Unesco World Heritage site in response to criticism. But Stonehenge Alliance, a group of non-governmental organisations, said it would cause "severe and permanent damage to the archaeological landscape".
"The project needs a complete re-think, not a minor tweak which still threatens major harm to this iconic landscape," said Kate Fielden from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, a member of the alliance. Conservation groups English Heritage and the National Trust gave their approval to the plan, however. "We welcome the amended route and believe it can, if designed and located with the utmost care, deliver a lasting legacy for the World Heritage Site and restore peace and tranquility to the Stonehenge landscape," the charities said in a statement. Transport Minister Chris Grayling said the new tunnel would provide "a huge boost for the region". "Quicker journey times, reduced congestion and cleaner air will benefit people locally and unlock growth in the tourism industry," he said.
The boost for Harris came amid new turmoil for 78-year-old Trump, who cast into doubt whether he will debate the vice...
“It was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel,”...
Starting this month, three autonomous on-demand delivery robots will begin their trial within the community
“They identify where our mobile groups are positioned, where the machine guns are that can destroy them," says...
Biden describes the pair as “two of the most notorious leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel”
Wang says Beijing is “ready to work with Russia to... firmly support each other, safeguard each other’s core...