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State of Conservation Stonehenge, Avebury and ... 2005

Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Factors affecting the property in 2005*
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Interpretative and visitation facilities
  • Management systems/ management plan
  • Underground transport infrastructure
  • Other Threats:

    Risks of collapse

Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Need for information on the management
  • Site Museum project
  • Upgrading of the A303 trunk road project
  • Risks of collapse of  Silbury Hill
  • Infrastructure development pressure 
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2005
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2005**

UNESCO site visit in June 2003;

2003 WHC Mission Report; Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites; June 2003
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2005

The State Party submitted the state of conservation report on 31 January 2005.  According to the national authorities, the Inspector's Report and recommendations following the Public Inquiry (17 February to 11 May 2004) on the A303 Stonehenge Improvement, originally expected in September 2004, still has not been published.  In September 2004, English Heritage submitted the planning application for the Visitor Centre and Access Scheme, which was followed by a formal public consultation period. 

The report also states that about 250 hectares at Stonehenge is undergoing grassland regeneration and reversion to chalk downland under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, is contributing towards improving the setting of monuments and biodiversity.

In addition, the excavations at Silbury Hill, which forms part of the Avebury site, have established that it is a robust monument with no major defects to threaten its stability.  English Heritage is considering what remedial work needs to be carried out in the longer term to deal with inadequate backfilling of earlier tunnels.

ICOMOS is concerned that about lack of progress in resolving the upgrading of the A303 trunk road, since this is essential before the A340 road, which crosses the property very close to the Stones, can be closed.  It stated that in 1986, when the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List, it had ‘noted with satisfaction the assurances provided by the authorities of the United Kingdom that the closure of the road which crosses the avenue of Stonehenge was receiving serious consideration as part of the overall plans for the future management of the property.’

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2005
29 COM 7B.88
Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,

2. Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.102, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3. Expresses its concerns on the fact that no progress in resolving the controversy over the "A303 Stonehenge Improvement" scheme has been made;

4. Takes note of the planning application for the visitor centre;

5. Requests once again that the Inspector's Report of the A303 Stonehenge Improvement Inquiry be provided to the World Heritage Centre upon publication;

6. Requests the State Party of the United Kingdom to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2007, for examination by the Committee at its 31st session (2007).

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Draft Decision:29 COM 7B.88

The World Heritage Committee,

1.              Having examined Document WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev,

2.              Recalling its Decision 28 COM 15B.102, adopted at its 28th session (Suzhou, 2004),

3.              Expresses its concerns that no progress in resolving the controversy over the "A303 Stonehenge Improvement" scheme had been made;

4.              Takes note of the planning application for the visitor centre;

5.              Requests once again that the Inspector's Report of the A303 Stonehenge Improvement Inquiry be provided to the World Heritage Centre upon publication;

6.              Requests the State Party to provide the World Heritage Centre with an updated report by 1 February 2007, in order that the World Heritage Committee can examine the state of conservation of the property at its 31st session in 2007.  

Previous 2004 Next 2007
Report year: 2005
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Date of Inscription: 1986
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)
Documents examined by the Committee
WHC-05/29.COM/7B.Rev
arrow_circle_right 29COM (2005)
Exports
Previous 2004 Next 2007

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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