Dr Tony Munday gathers signatures, in Amesbury's main car park on Friday, for his petition against the proposed Stonehenge tunnel. DA4729P1MORE than 850 people signed a petition in Amesbury last Friday and Saturday against plans to build a tunnel past Stonehenge and keep traffic on the A303 hidden from visitors to the World Heritage Site.

The Campaign Opposing The Stonehenge Tunnel was organised by Dr Tony Munday, who is also chairman of the Countess Road Residents' Group.

Dr Munday said he decided to organise the petition after running a similar campaign in Countess Road just before Christmas, when 96 per cent of those questioned said they were against the scheme.

"I thought if 96 per cent of people in Countess Road think that, how many people in Amesbury must think that?" said Dr Munday (71).

"That tunnel is being built as a purely cosmetic exercise and it's costing us £200m.

"If local people don't actually want it, it's important that view is represented."

At present, the A303 Stonehenge Improvement Scheme has the backing of Amesbury town council.

However, Dr Munday said that stance should change if that was not the view of the council's constituents.

"The local electorate doesn't want this tunnel, as the campaign proves, and therefore we shouldn't have it.

"The council is supposed to represent us and support our views, but at the moment Councillor Roger Fisher is going to stand up at the public enquiry and say, 'Amesbury supports this road plan', when that's clearly not the case."

Dr Munday made it clear that his campaign was solely opposed to the tunnel, and not the entire scheme.

The scheme will also see the A303 around Stonehenge upgraded to a dual carriageway and a bypass built around the village of Winterbourne Stoke.

"If it were not for the tunnel, I don't think I would be too unhappy about it, but I do think the Parker Plan is a better option," Dr Munday said.

"They have done it totally for aesthetic reasons, so that when we go to Stonehenge we won't be disturbed by the sight or sound of traffic.

"It's also an incredibly dangerous piece of engineering - that's why the fire services were against it."

Dr Munday said he hoped the results of his campaign would persuade councillors to change their minds.

However, the Mayor of Amesbury, Allan Peach, told the Journal that the council had already made its view on the matter very clear.

He added: "We are concerned about the tunnel, but what we do support is the improvements to the A303."