Editing Stonehenge (section)

====Setting and access====
[[File:Stonehenge cloudy sunset.jpg|thumb|Stonehenge at sunset]]

When Stonehenge was first opened to the public it was possible to walk among and even climb on the stones, but the stones were roped off in 1977 as a result of serious erosion.<ref>[http://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/news_rece_ston.php ''Proposals for a tunnel at Stonehenge: an assessment of the alternatives''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515200510/https://www.worldarchaeologicalcongress.org/site/news_rece_ston.php|date=15 May 2008 }}. ''The World Archaeological Congress''</ref> Visitors are no longer permitted to touch the stones but are able to walk around the monument from a short distance away. [[English Heritage]] does, however, permit access during the summer and winter solstice, and the spring and autumn equinox. Additionally, visitors can make special bookings to access the stones throughout the year.<ref>[http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.877 "Planning Your Visit to Stonehenge"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210044652/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.877|date=10 February 2008 }}. English Heritage</ref> Approximately 30,000 local residents are entitled to free admission to Stonehenge under an agreement made in 1921.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/stonehenge-local-residents-pass/ |title=Local Residents Pass |website=English Heritage |access-date=14 February 2021 |archive-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427082831/https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/stonehenge-local-residents-pass/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As motorised traffic increased, the setting of the monument began to be affected by the proximity of the two roads – on the north side the [[A344 road (England)|A344]] to [[Shrewton]] and Devizes which passed within three metres of the [[Heel Stone]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Chippindale |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Chippindale |date=June 1985 |title=Notes & News |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/notes-news/63D346B5BA81592C3BF72E8C5EF4E98F |journal=[[Antiquity (journal)|Antiquity]] |language=en |volume=59 |issue=226 |pages=113–137 |doi=10.1017/S0003598X00056933 |issn=0003-598X |url-access=registration}}</ref> and to the south the [[A303 road|A303]], a trunk route connecting London with Devon and Cornwall. In 1979, the [[Department of the Environment (United Kingdom)|Department of the Environment]] proposed moving visitor facilities into the dip of Stonehenge Bottom. In 1985, a commission set up by English Heritage led to an unimplemented decision to close the A344 and build a visitor centre on Army land north of the monument, to replace the "woefully inadequate" facilities and cater for an expected one million visitors per year.<ref name=":0" />

The access situation and the proximity of the two roads continued to draw criticism, highlighted by a 2006 [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] survey. In the survey of conditions at 94 leading World Heritage Sites, 400 conservation and tourism experts ranked Stonehenge 75th in the list of destinations, declaring it to be "in moderate trouble".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/troubled-stonehenge-lacks-magic-422736.html |title=Troubled Stonehenge 'lacks magic' |work=The Independent |location=UK |access-date=11 April 2009 |first=Cahal |last=Milmo |date=3 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220094235/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/troubled-stonehenge-lacks-magic-422736.html |archive-date=20 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The controversy surrounding re-routing of the roads led to the scheme being cancelled on multiple occasions. In December 2007, the government announced that plans to build a [[Stonehenge road tunnel]] under the landscape and create a permanent visitors' centre had been cancelled on cost grounds.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071206/debtext/71206-0003.htm#07120645000002 ''A303 Stonehenge Road Scheme''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120093753/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm071206/debtext/71206-0003.htm#07120645000002|date=20 November 2017 }} [[Hansard]] report of proceedings in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] 6 December 2007</ref>

[[File:Stonehenge visitors centre.png|thumb|upright=1.2|The visitor centre at Stonehenge]]

In 2009, the government gave approval for a £25&nbsp;million scheme to create a smaller visitors' centre and close the A344, although this was dependent on funding and local authority planning consent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8047968.stm |title=Stonehenge Centre gets Go-Ahead |date=13 May 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518021733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/8047968.stm |archive-date=18 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, Wiltshire Council granted planning permission for a centre {{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=in}} to the west, and English Heritage confirmed that funds to build it would be available, supported by a £10m grant from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Stonehenge development saved by lottery's £10m |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=19 November 2010 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |page=14}}</ref> In June 2013, the A344 was closed to begin the work of removing the section of road and replacing it with grass.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=BBC |date=24 June 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-23026522 |title=Stonehenge permanent road closure work begins |location=UK |access-date=24 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628045725/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-23026522 |archive-date=28 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=End in sight after 'decades of dithering' as Government steps in to help secure future for Stonehenge |publisher=[[Department of Culture, Media and Sport]] |date=4 April 2011 |url=http://www.dcms.gov.uk/news/media_releases/8019.aspx |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006090552/http://www.dcms.gov.uk/news/media_releases/8019.aspx |archive-date=6 October 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The centre, designed by [[Denton Corker Marshall]], opened to the public in December 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stonehenge Visitor Centre by Denton Corker Marshall opens tomorrow |url=http://www.dezeen.com/2013/12/17/stonehenge-visitor-centre-by-denton-corker-marshall-opens-tomorrow/ |work=dezeen |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=18 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217173447/http://www.dezeen.com/2013/12/17/stonehenge-visitor-centre-by-denton-corker-marshall-opens-tomorrow/ |archive-date=17 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

An announcement in November 2020 stated that a plan to construct a four-lane tunnel to take traffic below the site had been approved. This was intended to eliminate the section of the A303 that runs close to the circle. The plan had received opposition from a group of "archaeologists, environmentalists and modern-day druids" according to ''[[National Geographic]]'' but was supported by others who wanted to "restore the landscape to its original setting and improve the experience for visitors". Opponents of the plan were concerned that artifacts that are underground in the area would be lost, or that excavation in the area could de-stabilize the stones, leading to their sinking, shifting or perhaps falling.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/11/controversial-tunnel-under-stonehenge-approved-over-archaeologists-objections/ |title=Controversial tunnel under Stonehenge approved over archaeologists' objections |date=12 November 2020 |work=National Geographic |access-date=1 December 2020 |quote=Supporters say the highway tunnel will relieve traffic congestion ... Opponents fear the loss of ancient artifacts still hidden underground. |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212172109/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/controversial-tunnel-under-stonehenge-approved-over-archaeologists-objections?cmpid=org%253Dngp%253A%253Amc%253Dcrm-email%253A%253Asrc%253Dngp%253A%253Acmp%253Deditorial%253A%253Aadd%253DHistory_20201130&rid=D3C472AF93F8A8BCEE95284AEEFA77AA |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Art News">{{cite web |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/highway-tunnel-stonehenge-new-discoveries-1942259/amp-page |title=Archaeological Excavations Near Stonehenge Have Turned Up Ancient Graves and Scores of Other Fascinating Discoveries |date=8 February 2021 |work=Art News |access-date=10 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209020457/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/highway-tunnel-stonehenge-new-discoveries-1942259/amp-page |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2023, the [[Department for Transport]] announced that, despite the original planning application having been overturned by the High Court in 2021, the Transport Secretary, [[Mark Harper]], had approved plans for a {{Convert|2|mile|adj=on}} road tunnel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first= Sammy |title=Stonehenge tunnel is approved by government |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66201424 |date=14 July 2023 |website=BBC News |access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, the High Court in London rejected a fresh bid by campaigners to stop construction of the road tunnel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stonehenge: Campaigners lose court challenge to tunnel plans – DW – 02/20/2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/stonehenge-campaigners-lose-court-challenge-to-tunnel-plans/a-68302773 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> A further legal challenge was made in the High Court in July 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |title=Ministers 'inadequately briefed' on alternatives to Stonehenge tunnel plan, lawyers argue|date=15 July 2024 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/jul/15/stonehenge-tunnel-plan-alternatives-high-court |website=theguardian.com |publisher=Guardian |access-date=17 July 2024}}</ref> Although this action was dismissed by the High Court in October 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=Campaigners 'would have lost Stonehenge legal challenge' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwd5z9ppxno |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> the [[Starmer ministry|incoming Labour government]] had already announced in July that the tunnel would 'not move forward'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Stonehenge tunnel scheme cancelled by government |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jq8pxg0weo |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hakimian |first=Rob |date=2024-07-29 |title=Stonehenge Tunnel among infrastructure projects axed by government in budget overhaul |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/stonehenge-tunnel-among-infrastructure-projects-axed-by-government-in-budget-overhaul-29-07-2024/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |magazine=New Civil Engineer |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2025, English Heritage announced that planning permission had been granted for two buildings to be constructed near the visitor facilities: a 'Learning Centre' to the east of the shuttle bus turning circle and a 'Neolithic classroom' near the existing recreated Neolithic village. These are due to open in the autumn of 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Two new buildings to be built near Stonehenge by English Heritage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlxw9d25jwo |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stonehenge Education Project |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/school-visits/stonehenge-education-project/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=English Heritage}}</ref>