黑洞社区

The government has agreed a 拢5.5m funding package designed to see the Denton Corker Marshall-designed plans for a new 拢27m visitor centre for Stonehenge to go ahead.

The money will have to be supplemented by private funding, but culture secretary John Penrose claimed it put the troubled scheme back on track.

He said the government had 鈥渁lmost鈥� secured the necessary private funding, and English Heritage said the project could start on site as soon as next year.

The funding includes allowing English Heritage to access 拢2m from its reserves, and 拢3.5m from the Highways Agency to make necessary improvements to the road junction around the ancient monument.

John Penrose said: 鈥淭his is fantastic news for everyone involved in the project.

鈥淚t is a real step forward in making sure this World Heritage Site 鈥� a unique and iconic symbol of our prehistoric past 鈥� is not simply preserved, but also presented in the best possible light for visitors in the future.

鈥淚t was bitterly disappointing when the country鈥檚 dire financial state meant we had to withdraw government funding for the visitor centre here last June.

鈥淭he plans announced today mean that a successful outcome for this project is now a lot closer. There may still be a bit further to go, but we are optimistic English Heritage will be successful in securing the remaining funding that is required.鈥�

Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage said: 鈥淭hese are crucial steps that bring closer the transformation of the currently blighted Stonehenge landscape.

鈥淲e are grateful to the government for their forthright support for this important project particularly at a time when money is so tight. We now need to secure the last permissions and raise the final elements of funding.

鈥淚 am confident that we will be able to do both in time to start work next year.鈥�