Doubt over whether Stonehenge tunnel will go ahead

Stonehenge is one of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom

There is fresh doubt over whether the controversial A303 tunnel near Stonehenge will get built.

Labour's leader Sir Keir Starmer refused to commit to the scheme, and the Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said he is "minded to scrap it".

This comes after Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site (SSWHS), who oppose the government's £2bn two-mile tunnel on the A303, have been granted permission to appeal against the decision.

"Everything I've heard would put me minded to scrap it," Mr Davey said.

The tunnel would take traffic away from the ancient site

"We're very dubious about the scheme," Mr Davey added. "Whether it's value for money, whether it's good for the environment.

"Local people have raised a lot of concerns about it and we have to listen to those."

Sir Keir Starmer said earlier that "something needs to be done" at Stonehenge to improve traffic.

In an interview with BBC Points West, Sir Keir said traffic on the A303 in Wiltshire was "awful".

"I think the current plan is evidence of how long infrastructure projects take under this government. We've got to change that," Sir Keir said.

"We'll have to wait for the court hearing, but then we'll review after that," he added.

"I want to see what the court actually says about it first because it's now a decision from the court. But something has got to be done because the traffic situation there is intolerable."

In response to Sir Keir Starmer's comment, a Conservative spokesman said:

“It's shameless for Keir Starmer to complain about the A303 being delayed, when one of the Labour Party's biggest donors paid for the legal action delaying it.

“We've committed to dualling the A303 in our manifesto - but Labour has made no commitment at all."

The Green Party was contacted for comment. In their manifesto, they say they want to "re-imagine how we use streets in residential areas to reduce traffic and open them up for community use" and "invest in an additional £19bn over five years to improve public transport, support electrification and create new cycle-ways and footpaths".

Reform UK have been contacted for comment.