UK Approves £1.7bn Road Tunnel Near Stonehenge Despite Concerns Over Heritage Site Damage

The 3.2km tunnel, which is designed to reduce traffic and cut journey times on the A303, was first approved in 2020 but the decision was later quashed by the High Court after campaigns by locals.

The project involves overhauling eight miles of the major road that connects London to South West England.

However, the plans have been met with opposition from the Stonehenge Alliance, a campaign group that fears the tunnel could lead to the loss of the site's World Heritage status.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has given the green light to the project, stating that there is a clear need for the new tunnel and the project's harm on the environment is outweighed by the public benefits.

Harper acknowledged that there will be harm to the cultural heritage and historic environment of the site, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but said that the project should proceed.

The plans were initially given the go-ahead in 2020 by then-transport secretary Grant Shapps, despite objections from the Planning Inspectorate officials who said it would cause "permanent, irreversible harm" to the area.

However, the decision was successfully challenged by the Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site alliance in the High Court.

The RAC Foundation's director, Steve Gooding, said that the saga surrounding the project is "starting to feel almost as old as the stones themselves" and that there is a risk of further legal delays.

The next hurdle for the project is securing the funding needed to proceed, despite the economic squeeze on the Department for Transport's budget.

Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Transport, Caroline Thomas, welcomed the decision, stating that it represents a significant investment in the county and will boost the economy by creating jobs and investment.

However, the decision has been met with criticism from archaeologist and spokeswoman for the Stonehenge Alliance, Dr Kate Fielden, who said that the government is "prepared to implement a £2.5bn road scheme when the country is in dire need of expenditure on Transport for London (TfL) has announced that it will be introducing a new £10-a-day "super-bus" fares to encourage more people to use public transport and reduce carbon emissions.

The new fares will be introduced in September, and will be available for buses, trams, and the London Overground.

The move has been welcomed by some, but others question whether it will be effective in reducing carbon emissions.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority transport lead, Debbie Hewitt, has said that while she welcomes any initiative that encourages people to use public transport, she believes there needs to be a more joined-up approach to transport in the region.

Hewitt has also called for more investment in public transport, suggesting that the government should be encouraging alternative means of transport.

"We are legally committed to reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, and that includes modes of transport - we are fiddling while Rome burns," she said.

Hewitt also highlighted the importance of improving transport infrastructure in the region, such as investing in more bike lanes and improving train links between cities.

"We need to ensure that people have a realistic alternative to using their cars," she said.

TfL's new £10-a-day super-bus fares will be introduced in September, and will be available for use on buses, trams, and the London Overground.

The fares will be capped at £400 per month, and will allow unlimited travel on all public transport within the capital.

The new fares are expected to be popular with commuters, and could potentially encourage more people to use public transport.