The collapse of the latest Stonehenge project has been branded a World Heritage tragedy and a setback for the economy of the SW of England by Robert Key, the local MP.

Robert Key, who has been MP for Stonehenge since 1983 and was himself a Minister for Culture and for Roads said the unwillingness of the Government to fund their own road proposals represented a breakdown in the machinery of government

“The growing economy of the South West requires better roads. The regional tourism and heritage industry is being stifled and the quality of life of the local residents and workforce is falling as they face regular gridlock in the local road network.

Because the tunnel is abandoned, planning permission falls on the proposed new English Heritage Visitors’ Centre. The £24 million promised by the Heritage Lottery Fund will no-doubt go to the 2012 Olympic Games instead.

The Government must still honour its promise to UNESCO to close the A344 past the stones and upgrade the very poor visitor facilities. They must also upgrade the A303(T) and install electronic traffic management. They must build the Winterbourne Stoke bypass and the flyover at Countess Roundabout at Amesbury.

The Government must immediately set up a Stakeholder Task Force. They should reconsider the option proposed 10 years ago of a new Visitors’ Centre and car park in the dip in the downs 1km to the west of the stones, accessed from the existing A344 from Airman’s Corner.

This semi-permanent solution would allow new strategic consideration of how to upgrade the A303(T) and remove it from the landscape of Stonehenge.”