Stonehenge gets go-ahead for new facilities

A new visitor centre for Stonehenge has been given the go-ahead to be built near the Stones in time for the 2012 Olympics, a move welcomed by VisitWiltshire.

The centre’s new position will be approximately 1.5 miles west of the current visitor centre still providing good access to the Stones via an all weather visitor transit system which is being introduced to prevent visitors suffering at the hands of the British weather.

The building work will see a section of the A344 decommissioned and grassed over, reuniting Stonehenge with the ancient processional Avenue and improving the setting of the monument.

Alun Williams, head of VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership welcomed the news: “This is great news for tourism in Wiltshire, following consistent requests from the public for better facilities at Stonehenge. The government investment in revitalising the current facilities will only add to the historic site and hopefully encourage visitors to remain at the site and in Wiltshire for longer. With additional space for providing information about the Stones visitors are sure to get more out of a day at England’s most iconic and ancient monument.”

Stonehenge will continue to remain open for visitors during the work.

For more information about Stonehenge visit stonehenge.co.uk or visitwiltshire.co.uk.