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'Be patient' plea over new Stonehenge visitor centre | 'Be patient' plea over new Stonehenge visitor centre |
(about 1 hour later) | |
People disgruntled with the new £27m visitor centre at Stonehenge have been urged to "be patient" while English Heritage "irons out" its issues. | People disgruntled with the new £27m visitor centre at Stonehenge have been urged to "be patient" while English Heritage "irons out" its issues. |
Reviews posted on the Trip Advisor website have complained of steep prices, long queues and inadequate transport to the stones. | Reviews posted on the Trip Advisor website have complained of steep prices, long queues and inadequate transport to the stones. |
English Heritage said shuttle buses had been increased and a timed ticketing system would start in February. | English Heritage said shuttle buses had been increased and a timed ticketing system would start in February. |
But it said the majority of feedback had been "overwhelmingly positive". | But it said the majority of feedback had been "overwhelmingly positive". |
A spokeswoman said: "This is a brand new operation, on a completely different scale to the old visitor centre, and naturally during these early days there have been some issues. | A spokeswoman said: "This is a brand new operation, on a completely different scale to the old visitor centre, and naturally during these early days there have been some issues. |
"But we are solving them. | "But we are solving them. |
"We appreciate all the feedback we've received and we would ask people to be patient while we iron out the few remaining issues." | "We appreciate all the feedback we've received and we would ask people to be patient while we iron out the few remaining issues." |
'Ugly carbuncle' | 'Ugly carbuncle' |
Several users on Trip Advisor were critical of the new centre, with one describing it as a "monstrously ugly carbuncle". | Several users on Trip Advisor were critical of the new centre, with one describing it as a "monstrously ugly carbuncle". |
One user said: "I am a wheelchair user and I thought the price was a bit steep, I had no discount on being disabled. there wasn't much to see when I went in, it was a bit poor for the money." | One user said: "I am a wheelchair user and I thought the price was a bit steep, I had no discount on being disabled. there wasn't much to see when I went in, it was a bit poor for the money." |
However, another said the visit was an "incredible experience" and the monument was "beautiful". | However, another said the visit was an "incredible experience" and the monument was "beautiful". |
English Heritage said the admission price of £14.90 offered value for money and would not be lowered. | English Heritage said the admission price of £14.90 offered value for money and would not be lowered. |
More than one million people visit Stonehenge each year. About two thirds of them come from overseas. | More than one million people visit Stonehenge each year. About two thirds of them come from overseas. |
The new visitor centre, which features an exhibition of 250 prehistoric objects, opened in December. | The new visitor centre, which features an exhibition of 250 prehistoric objects, opened in December. |
Facilities at the complex also include an education centre, cafe, shop and toilets. | |
A transit system transports visitors to the World Heritage Site and the nearby A344, which ran near the stones, was closed and grassed over. | |
The project has been partially funded by a £10m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. |