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The
plans aim to transform the monument from "a national disgrace" to
a World Heritage site to fit its international status.
The
money will go on providing improved access to the stones, and a
new centre and facilities to cater for the millions who visit each
year.
"It's
more than £26M in two tranches, and at least £10M from
the government," said chairman of English Heritage, Sir Neil
Cossons, at today's unveiling.
Squalor:
the current visitor centre at Stonehenge |
"The
project is alive, we're going to go for this, it's the scheme that
everybody wants and I think it's going to be a breathtaking and
in everyway, appropriate answer to the long running squalor of Stonehenge
and its visitor facilities," he added.
Landowners,
the National Trust, will also organise funding for improvements
to the landscape which will include opening up the ancient site
in Wiltshire to give the fullest access ever with options for exploring
the World Heritage site from a variety of new routes and drop-off
points.
Sir
Neil Cossons, chairman of English Heritage said the new visitor
centre would be placed outside of the archaeologically sensitive
site.
Part
of the model showing the layout for the new visitor centre |
The
new visitor centre will give tourists a short introductory multi-media
presentation - in one of two film theatres - on the midsummer and
midwinter solstice events and will also explain the theories of
astronomy at Stonehenge in a dramatic new film and animated graphics.
"The
importance of today's announcement cannot be underestimated. These
funds are the key to reuniting archaeological landscape rich with
ceremonial monuments spanning over 10,000 years.
"Visitors
to Stonehenge deserve better than this and at long last they will
be able to engage with the wonder of the Stonehenge landscape as
never before."
Stonehenge
Master Plan: goodbye to the A303? |
The
other half of the "Master Plan" for the prehistoric monument, controversial
plans to alter the roads around Stonehenge, are still under consideration
by the Highways Agency.
A
spokesman for the Highways Agency said at the announcement today
that draft road plans should be complete by January 2003 with a
public inquiry expected to be held in the autumn of 2003.
The
plans for improved access and the new visitor centre are hoped to
be complete by 2006.
Construction
of the road scheme is likely to start in 2005 and be complete by
2008.
If you have strong feelings about the future of Stonehenge, see
Â鶹Éç Wiltshire's
Stoned Section
and share your thoughts.
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Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site on a par with Bath and
The Pyramids in Egypt.
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