Urgent action demanded on A303 traffic after tunnel axed
Council members voted overwhelmingly to call on the secretary of state for transport to give “clear direction” on the next steps for addressing congestion
Last updated 16th Jun 2026
Urgent action has been demanded over traffic on the A303 near Stonehenge after the government’s controversial £2 billion tunnel scheme was scrapped.
At a meeting of the full council of Wiltshire Council on May 19, members voted overwhelmingly to call on the secretary of state for transport to give “clear direction” on the next steps for addressing congestion on the arterial route, and the impact of rat runs on neighbouring villages.
And they passed a resolution compelling council leader Ian Thorn to write to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander after he pledged to ‘drive to Swindon and talk to her himself’.
The Stonehenge Tunnel scheme was first announced by the Conservative government in 2014, with a commitment to fund a bored tunnel past the World Heritage Site.
A Development Consent Order was granted by Conservative Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in 2020.
However, the scheme was scrapped by the incoming Labour government in late July 2024.
In March 2026, the Department for Transport confirmed that the Transport Secretary – who is also the MP for Swindon South – had formally revoked the Development Consent Order.
In a letter dated June 11, Cllr Thorn told the minister: “The A303 remains a route of both national and regional importance, vital to the connectivity of the Southwest and to the economic well-being of Wiltshire’s communities and businesses.
“However, congestion along the route continues to have a profound and growing impact on local communities, with high volumes of traffic diverting through villages, affecting safety, air quality, and quality of life for residents.
“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.
“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:
“Detail on the short-term support that will be made available to communities affected by congestion and traffic displacement;
Clear direction on the next steps for addressing capacity and reliability issues on the A303;
A commitment to the development of a funded and deliverable alternative solution;
And a clear timeline for consultation, decision-making, and implementation.”
The council said it was “keen to play a constructive and proactive role in shaping future proposals.”
“We stand ready to work in partnership with Government, National Highways and local stakeholders to develop a solution that addresses transport needs while protecting our communities and respecting the area’s exceptional environmental and heritage constraints,” wrote Cllr Thorn.
“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.”