Dear Mr Bandarin

Stonehenge (UK) World Heritage Site

At the 31st Session of the World Heritage Committee in Christchurch New Zealand at the end of this month, please will the World Heritage Committee consider placing Stonehenge on the endangered list – or even delisting it all together?

The British Government has yet again postponed any decision on removing roads from the World Heritage Site and building a new Visitors’ Centre – both promised many years ago. I enclose Parliamentary Questions from Ministers at the Department from Transport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which announce a further postponement of any decision.

As you know, as long ago as April 1986 ICOMOS said the A344 road must be removed. In December 1986 UNESCO was assured that the A344 would be closed and removed. Since then the World Heritage Committee has expressed concern on a number of occasions. I believe it is now time for the World Heritage Committee to take decisive action.

Since 1983 I have been Member of Parliament for the constituency that includes the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. During that time I have also served as a Minister for National Heritage and a Minister for Roads. You will recall that a Select Committee report by the House of Commons Culture Committee described the Stonehenge World Heritage Site as “a national disgrace”. That was many years ago – and nothing has changed.

Just as the British Government has failed to adequately protect the Tower of London World Heritage Site and the Westminster World Heritage Site, they show no intention of prioritising transport infrastructure improvements and new visitor and access facilities at Stonehenge.

I should add that I am also a Trustee and Director of the Wessex Trust for Archaeology which has for many years been a consultant to English Heritage on the archaeology of Stonehenge.

My home town is the medieval city of Salisbury – just 8 miles south of Stonehenge. I have known and loved Stonehenge and its prehistoric landscape for 60 years and it grieves me to see the way in which the British Government promises so much – and does absolutely nothing. Some £25million has been spent on producing management plans and strategy papers but still the visitor facilities are a disgrace and the World Heritage Site status has not led to any material improvement or superior status since the day UNESCO granted the designation.

Please will you assure me that this matter will be considered by the World Heritage Committee meeting in Christchurch at the end of this month?

Yours sincerely

DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Stonehenge

Tuesday 22 May 2007

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when work will commence on the Stonehenge Visitors Centre; and if she will make a statement. [138404]

Mr. Lammy: Planning consent was granted for the Stonehenge Visitor Centre subject to conditions, one of which is that improvements to the A303 go ahead, as set out in the published Stonehenge Improvement Order 2000. The Government are considering the findings of the A303 Review of Options and will make an announcement in due course on the way forward. Our intention remains that we find a solution for Stonehenge which will respect the status of Stonehenge as a World Heritage Site and which is affordable and deliverable.

TRANSPORT

A303: Stonehenge

Thursday 24 May 2007

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his decision on the A303(T) improvement scheme at Stonehenge. [138405]

Dr. Ladyman: We are considering the findings of the inter-departmental review of the Stonehenge Improvement Scheme and alternative options. In order to understand more fully the effects of some of the options on the operation of the A303 and the local road network, it has been necessary to undertake further detailed analysis based on up-to-date traffic surveys which were undertaken last autumn. The results from this work will be considered alongside the findings of the review group to inform our decision