LONDON:The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge in southern England was closed to visitors Saturday after dozens of protesters staged a trespass against the British government's road-building plans, including a new tunnel near the World Heritage Site.
The protesters, who described themselves as an alliance of local residents, ecologists, activists, archaeologists and pagans, gathered at Stonehenge around midday.
English Heritage, a national charity that manages hundreds of historic sites, soon after made the decision to close Stonehenge to visitors “due to unforeseen circumstances" and said it was against the law for anyone to enter the monument area without its consent.
“Whilst we respect people’s right to demonstrate peacefully, we do not condone behavior that disrupts and endangers the site and the people who visit or work here," an English Heritage spokeswoman said.
Wiltshire Police, the local police force, said the “small” protest “passed peacefully” and that no arrests were made.
“Whilst we are grateful that the protest was peaceful and it quickly dispersed, we do want to remind the public that trespassing on the stones is against the law," the police force said in a statement.
The protest comes less than a month after the government backed the 1.7 billion-pound ($2.3 billion) tunnel plan. The tunnel near Stonehenge that is intended to ease traffic along a stretch of the A3030 highway that is widely prone to gridlock.
The decision has faced vociferous opposition from local residents as well as archaeologists. Opponents, who have launched a legal action against the project, say the tunnel will damage the environment, wildlife and potential archaeological finds underground.
The protesters are also voicing their worries about the government’s broader 27 billion-pound road-building program, which they say goes against its objectives to reduce greenhouse gases.
“This is the coming together of people who are saying we have had enough," Dan Hooper, an environmental activist who is better known as Swampy. “Building more roads simply leads to more traffic and carbon."
Stonehenge, which is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, was built on the flat lands of Salisbury Plain in stages, starting 5,000 years ago, with the unique stone circle erected in the late Neolithic period about 2,500 B.C.
The site’s meaning has been a subject of vigorous debate, some more seemingly outlandish than others. English Heritage notes several explanations over the centuries - from Stonehenge being a coronation place for Danish kings or a Druid temple to a cult center for healing or an astronomical computer for predicting eclipses and solar events.
The charity said the interpretation “most generally accepted is that of a prehistoric temple aligned with the movements of the sun.”
AP Newsroom
Sun Dec 06 2020
![Protesters against tunnel close UK's prehistoric Stonehenge Protesters against tunnel close UK's prehistoric Stonehenge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-09/71505054919_Stonehenge.jpg)
Wiltshire Police, the local police force, said the "small" protest "passed peacefully" and that no arrests were made. - REUTERS
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720679430_AbdulKarimRahman.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan
Sepak takraw wanita berpasukan berkemungkinan akan digugurkan daripada senarai acara temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2024 berikutan jumlah penyertaan kurang daripada jumlah minimum yang ditetapkan.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702437730_maut.jpg)
Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok
Enam orang ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok, Thailand pada Selasa laporan media tempatan yang memetik polis Bangkok.
AWANI 7:45 [16/07/2024] - Suspek dibawa ke lokasi | Selamat tinggal rakyat Malaysia | Harimau Malaya hilang taring?
- Polis sahkan suspek bunuh Kartini anggota polis.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
![Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721139141_TBJDUSHA.jpg)
Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman
Usha Vance, isteri kepada Senator J.D. Vance yang dipilih sebagai calon gandingan bekas presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Donald Trump awal minggu ini, telah meletakkan jawatannya di sebuah firma guaman,
![Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/71683779541_TBNAJIBRAZAK.jpg)
Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum
Berdasarkan sistem e-filing mahkamah, rayuan itu telah ditetapkan untuk pengurusan kes pada 7 Oktober ini.
![EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721013896_LukeShaw.jpg)
EURO 2024: Saya hanya mampu minta maaf kepada peminat - Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw tidak pernah berada dalam kesebelasan utama sejak saingan kumpulan akibat dari kecederaan yang dialaminya di Manchester United.
![Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720996121_EUROSpainCh.jpg)
Sepanyol juara Euro 2024, England terus kempunan
Kemenangan itu menjadi kejuaraan Eropah keempat buat La Roja manakala England terus kempunan tewas dalam dua perlawanan akhir berturut-turut.
![EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720931139_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: Harry Kane sedia 'tinggalkan' pencapaian terdahulu demi julang gelaran bersama England
HARRY Kane mengakui dia sedia 'tinggalkan segala pencapaian yang diperoleh sepanjang kerjaya' untuk memenangi Euro 2024 bersama England, apabila bakal bertemu Sepanyol awal pagi esok.
![EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720931720_GarethSouthgate.jpg)
EURO 2024: England perlu muncul juara demi penghormatan dunia bola sepak
GARETH Southgate percaya England perlu memenangi Euro 2024 jika mereka ingin mendapat pengiktirafan dunia bola sepak.
![EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720658510_tbOllieWatkinsEng.jpg)
EURO 2024: Jaringan minit akhir Ollie Watkins pacu England mara ke final
Perlawanan separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England dan Belanda terikat 1-1 hasil jaringan 'roket' Xavi Simons dan Harry Kane.
![EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain' EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720502654_HarryKane.jpg)
EURO 2024: 'Sesiapa yang berdepan England berharap Kane tidak bermain'
PEMAIN England memberikan sokongan kepada kapten mereka, Harry Kane yang berada dalam tekanan selepas persembahan hambar dalam kejohanan Euro kali ini.
![EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720308967_Euro.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bukayo Saka pacu England mara ke separuh akhir
Switzerland terpaksa akur selepas tewas 5-3 kepada England melalui sepakan penentuan penalti dalam perlawanan suku akhir.
![EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71719783357_JudeBellingham.jpg)
EURO 2024: Bellingham, Kane watak penting kebangkitan England ke suku akhir
Separuh masa pertama menyaksikan England mendominasi aksi tetapi sukar menembusi benteng pertahanan Slovakia yang lebih berdisiplin.
![EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719460809_EnglandBelanda.jpg)
EURO 2024: England, Belanda elak bertembung selepas Georgia singkir Hungary
England akan bertemu Slovakia dan Belanda akan menghadapi Romania dalam pusingan 16 EURO 2024 selepas Hungary tersingkir.
![EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719363645_England.jpg)
EURO 2024: England muncul juara kumpulan di sebalik aksi hambar
Walaupun seri, England melangkah ke pusingan 16 selaku juara kumpulan selepas Denmark dan Serbia juga seri tanpa jaringan dalam satu lagi perlawanan.