'Action needed to stop Stonehenge rat-running'

Urgent action has been demanded over "profound" traffic issues near Stonehenge after the government scrapped the controversial £2bn tunnel scheme.

Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn has written to Transport Minister Heidi Alexander raising the alarm about traffic problems, which he said are having a "profound and growing impact".

This comes after local councillors voted in May to call on Alexander to give "clear direction" on addressing A303 congestion and drivers using neighbouring villages as short cuts.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said: "National Highways will soon start reviewing its future investment priorities and we encourage Wiltshire Council to participate in that process."

The Stonehenge Tunnel scheme was first announced by the Conservative government in 2014, but was scrapped by the incoming Labour government in July 2024.

In recent months, councillors from surrounding villages have also been raising the issue, with Winterbourne Stoke Parish Council chairman Peter Smith describing the level of rat-running in his village as "appalling".

In an open letter on Thursday, Thorn told the minister: "The A303 remains a route of both national and regional importance, vital to the connectivity of the south-west and to the economic well-being of Wiltshire's communities and businesses."

He added that high volumes of traffic are diverting through villages and affecting safety, air quality, and quality of life for residents, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"Since the cancellation of the tunnel scheme, Wiltshire has been left with the ongoing legacy of these traffic problems, without a clear plan for how they will now be resolved," he wrote.

"This is a matter of increasing concern to our communities, who continue to experience the direct consequences of congestion and rat-running on a daily basis."

The council has demanded details on short-term support to communities affected by congestion and traffic displacement, and a commitment to the development of an alternative solution with a clear timeline.

"Given the urgency of the situation and its ongoing impact on our communities, I would welcome early engagement with you and your officials to discuss the way forward," wrote Thorn.

A DfT spokesperson said: "Given the challenging financial picture we inherited, we had to make difficult decisions about a number of road projects as they were unfunded or unaffordable.

"We remain committed to investing in the strategic road network, which is why we are providing around £5 billion in this year alone on our motorways and key A-roads to support maintenance, enhancement, and ensure smoother journeys.

"National Highways will soon start reviewing its future investment priorities and we encourage Wiltshire Council to participate in that process."

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