Government Withdraws Funding for Stonehenge Visitor Centre

There is frustration that £10m pledged for new visitor facilities at Stonehenge was withdrawn in yesterday’s Treasury announcement.

On 17 June, Jeremy Hunt MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, announced the cultural and heritage projects to be suspended or cancelled in his Department. These included a £10 million contribution towards the new visitor centre at Stonehenge. Commenting on the cancellation of funding, Tourism and Heritage Minister, John Penrose, said:

I recognise the disappointment that everyone in the heritage community feels at today’s announcement. But I hope that they, and others, will understand why this has come about – the costs and benefits of this project had to be considered in the light of the current financial picture. We all have to accept trade-offs, but even though we can’t afford to fund the project today, it remains a priority for the future.

English Heritage issued a press statement (PDF 45KB) expressing its extreme disappointment but say that this does not necessarily mean this is the end of the project:

We will be discussing the withdrawal of Government financial support with the DCMS. We will be making an announcement as to the future of the project after the English Heritage Commission meets at the end of June.

CBA’s Director, Mike Heyworth commented:

The CBA, like many others, is deeply disappointed that the plans for visitor facilities at Stonehenge are in jeopardy, after so much investment and work to get the project to this advanced stage. The present inadequate and unsightly arrangements are totally unacceptable for presentation of a world class monument. The focus of international attention during the Olympic year will only serve to highlight this. We are pleased to know that, despite the cut in funding, English Heritage is looking at all the options for achieving badly needed improvements.