11/07/2012

Work Begins On New £27m Stonehenge Visitor Centre

Work has begun on a new £27m ‘out of sight’ visitors centre at Stonehenge.

English Heritage has said the new site will transform the area from a "national embarrassment" into a tranquil setting for one of the world's great prehistoric monuments.

The plans included replacing the current collection of shabby buildings next to the stones and to close a nearby A road.

Contractor VINCI Construction UK has taken possession of the site at Airman's Corner, 1.5 miles to the west of the stones, to start work on the new exhibition and visitor building. In September, the Highways Agency will begin preliminary work that will lead to the closure of the A344 at Stonehenge.

Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "A new dawn at Stonehenge is truly upon us. Though the stones themselves have never failed to awe visitors, their setting has been a national embarrassment and disgrace.

"After nearly 30 years English Heritage finally has a scheme that will transform the setting of the stones and our visitors' experience of them.

The restoration of the landscape together with a major new exhibition on site will finally give our greatest and most famous monument the treatment it deserves."

(H)


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