There are fears that Stonehenge could lose its World Heritage status if changes are not made to the A303 improvement scheme past the site.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, which decides on what sites get the status says its Committee and the Advisory Bodies have been “clear and consistent” that the proposed A303 tunnel should not proceed in its current form.

“The currently proposed western portal and associated dual carriageway within a cutting would have significant and inappropriate adverse impacts on the physical and visual integrity of the property”, it says.

UNESCO has urged the government to move the western portal of the planned tunnel “as far west as reasonably practical” to minimise archaeological removals, as part of its recommendations.

Its committee has asked for a report from the government on the state of conservation at the site by 1 February next year.

(Picture – National Highways)