From Wiltshire Council:
"I am writing to you in relation to the Byways Open to All Traffic contained within the vicinity of Stonehenge. For some time, the current level and type of use of these Byways Open to All Traffic has resulted in a number of issues around damage to the surface of the Byways Open to All Traffic and degradation of the environment within the World Heritage Site (WHS). While it was thought that the promotion of the Stonehenge Tunnel Scheme would have addressed a number of these issues, its cancellation means that this opportunity has now disappeared.Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site Management Plan (2015) sets out some specific objectives in relation to highways and public rights of way:
· Policy 6a of the Management Plan states the need to identify and implement measures to reduce the negative impacts of roads, traffic and parking on the WHS and to improve road safety and the ease and confidence with which residents and visitors can explore the WHS.
· Policy 6b states the aim to manage vehicular access to byways within the WHS to avoid damage to archaeology, improve safety and encourage exploration of the landscape on foot whilst maintaining access for emergency, operational and farm vehicles and landowners.
Most recent inspection of the Byways Open to All Traffic, carried out in conjunction with the “Winter Solstice” closures, identified the fact that the byway surface conditions had deteriorated to an unacceptable condition. This has necessitated the closures being extended to enable repair works to be undertaken.
Wiltshire Council as the Highway Authority is now seeking to develop a holistic approach that addresses Policy 6a and 6b of the Management Plan. To this end we are now looking to consult with user groups and interested parties for their views on what measures they feel would be appropriate and proportionate to address the problems being experienced.
We would be grateful if you could make any observations and respond to this correspondence by 21st March 2025.
Responses can be returned to:
stonehengebyways@wiltshire.gov.uk
Thank you for your attention in this matter."
Byway 11 runs through our farm. Before the closure the 4x4 "enthusiasts" absolutely ruined it. Ruts nearly knee deep on the drove, that can never be made good. It us now all but impassable in places on foot or horseback, and even on a quad. The 4x4 groups don't care about the byway, and been openly hostile to us when we clear fallen trees off the track.
ReplyDeleteBefore the closure we would have stock fences cut on a regular basis, as much as bi-weekly at its worst, by illegal coursers and poachers. We have also been subject to a farm invasion, and have suffered physical violence to our lives and property. Since the closure we have had no instances of coursing, poaching or violence. The police have indeed recommended to us that we block the byway at night with machinery to try and stop the levels of incursions we were suffering.
Keep the byways shut.