Carbrain go vrooooommm
Comment on Stonehenge campaigners’ last-chance bid to save site from road tunnel
Gamers_Mate@kbin.social 6 months ago
Wtf this is the the actual Stonehenge?
I thought the government was really protective of that because it brought in tourists?
JeffKerman1999@sopuli.xyz 6 months ago
thehatfox@lemmy.world 6 months ago
I’ve heard some people claim the project would enhance the site by “hiding” the road. Completely ignoring the enormous amount of damage that would be done to area’s archeological significance.
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
What damage are you expecting?
GBU_28@lemm.ee 6 months ago
There could be countless archeological objects in the surrounding area. So digging for no good reason is a bad idea.
Though I don’t know if any specific stability risk, the vibrations and disturbance from construction is a non zero (but probably low) risk to the stability of the site.
Also roads create pollution, which in general should try to be kept as far as possible from natural or ancient archeological sites.
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
I think a lot of money has been spent looking at the area to confirm there isn’t anything in its way - one of the other comments has a link about how everything was paused for 4 months when they did find something nearby.
If they can dig a tube tunnel through some of the places in london that they did for crossrail, this isn’t going to be a problem.
There is already an A-road there, one that is normally practically stationary due to how the road narrows there. by sticking it in a tunnel it saves the immediate area from the pollution. Hopefully as we electrify more vehicles that will get even better too.
For reference - this is how close the road currently is - getting it underground will make the immediate area much nicer.
sunbeam60@lemmy.one 6 months ago
And you expect them to carry on digging if they find invaluable archeological artefacts?
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
If they dig under then it’s not a problem
floofloof@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
Much of the value of the site lies underground. It’s a rich archaeological site where significant discoveries are still being made. This is part of what makes it a World Heritage Site.
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
It’s on a big hill, the archeology isn’t going to be more than 10m deep right? The only issue will therefore be at the entrance and exit?
I assume that they put the portals in ‘empty’ places and will have archeologists at the site to confirm they are not digging things up. (And have/are studying the area more)
killeronthecorner@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Best not to assign any kind of virtue to the current government, you’ll only be disappointed
ianovic69@feddit.uk 6 months ago
Road infrastructure brings much more wealth than the tourism at this site. The little A road from SE to SW is always jammed because of the stones, it hasn’t been able to cope with the traffic for years, if not decades.
Of course, any other option than road expansion isn’t going to allow enormous contracts and associated bungs and favours, so destroy our heritage it is.
I feel like I just issued a press release on behalf of .gov/tfl
Gamers_Mate@kbin.social 6 months ago
That is disappointing especially after what happened to Sycamore Gap.
Maybe if it is not to heavy the British Museum can steal it to keep it safe/ /s
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
If they dig under it, then there is very little effect and it gets rid of the busy, noisy and slow main road that goes right by it.
floofloof@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
Opponents contend that the tunnel project may irreparably damage an ancient landscape that is only beginning to be understood and is still full of surprises. Last June the discovery of 20 deep shafts arranged in an enormous circle nearby the site forced the government to delay the decision on the project for another four months while the find could be assessed.
Nighed@sffa.community 6 months ago
If they can remove the overground road there is that not an improvement? It’s not like this area is pristine, there are towns there, a military base etc. this will improve the area immediately around Stonehenge.
If they are spending money on archeology in the area and discovering new things, that’s great. It means the entrance/exit are less likely to damage anything.
On the environment - that’s less of an issue if we can electrify vehicles properly, it’s a busy road because people and freight (lots of warheouses in Aimesbury) use it. We have unfortunately proved that we can’t build railways either so there isn’t much choice.
prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 6 months ago
You are not wrong.
The issue folks have is whether or not due diligence has been done and actually will be done to prevent destroying what could be some major discoveries about the site.
I doubt anyone is actually upset that the road will be gone and the area less of a roadway, it’s more that folks are concerned that they’re just doing it haphazardly.
floofloof@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
You have to remember that the British government does not have any competent people left.
Diplomjodler@feddit.de 6 months ago
It’s worse than that. “Conservatives” enjoy destruction. If being conservative meant anything at all, conserving a site like Stonehenge would be a no-brainer. But no. They like to fuck up everything and then screech about how they’re being victimised.