Landscapes for the World: Conserving a Global Heritage |
|
|
Login |
Don't have an account yet? You can create one. As a registered user you have some advantages like your own Home Page, configurable settings and your contributions link to your page. |
Who's Online |
There are currently, 101 guests and 8 members online.
You are an Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here |
Instant Chat |
| | | Registered users can chat here, live! | | |
|  |
Sites under Threat: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal
|
Submitted by coldrum on Monday, 10 March 2008 Page Views: 2394
|
 Country: England County: Oxfordshire Type: Stone Circle
Internal Links:  
External Links:
  Trustees of an ancient monument in Oxfordshire are set to do battle to prevent a new traffic plan spoiling the site of another stone circle.
The Rollright Stones, which date back about 4,500 years, could have heavy goods vehicles sent thundering down the lane that passes between the stone circle and associated megaliths, if a new traffic management proposal goes ahead.
The proposal is one of several options outlined by West Oxfordshire County Council to deal with air quality in nearby market town Chipping Norton, which mean that alternative routes for traffic are being sought.
A new by-pass has been all but ruled out due to high costs and the time it would take to build, so diversions and widening of existing routes around the town are favoured by the air quality action plan.
The lane would have to be widened under the £4.95m scheme, the Cross Hands Lane Diversion, which is now open for public consultation. It is billed as taking five to seven years to complete, but could be prolonged if scheduled ancient monument consent is needed, which it would indeed, to pass through the stones site. Other proposals being considered would also keep traffic on the edge of the town.
“It’s ironic really when there’s been such effort put into the roads around Stonehenge that this should even be contemplated,” said George Lambrick, Chair of the Rollright Trust.
Traffic is a serious problem in Chipping Norton, where nitrogen dioxide levels from fumes along the busiest thoroughfares are far above the government target of 21 parts per billion.
“It’s a genuine problem,” said George, “but simply moving it from one nice place to another is not the solution.”
“The main thing is concern over air quality, which should be resolved through technology and regulation of emissions.”
However, while residents may complain that stones do not suffer from exhaust fumes, the Rollright Trustees would beg to differ – the stones are home to lichens which could be seriously damaged by increased air pollution.
“We’ve found 59 different species of lichen on the stones, and while dating them may not be perfectly accurate, measurements show that one of them could be the oldest in Britain, going back to 1100AD,” explained George.
A few years ago, the stones were spattered with paint by vandals and Trust members spent a lot of time and effort removing the damage without using chemicals so as not to harm the precious organisms.
The Trust’s prime concern is to keep the peaceful attraction the way it is, though, and not ruin the atmosphere at the Rollrights nor make it an unsafe place to visit because of the road between the circle and other stones, the ‘Whispering Knights’ and ‘King Stone’. The Trust is now formulating its response and will be drumming up support before the end of the consultation period on March 31 2008.
The draft action plan can be studied on the West Oxfordshire County Council website.
More about the Rollright Stones.
|
|
 | |
Metallurgical Reports on British and Irish Bronze Age Implements |
|
|
Auto-Translation (Google) |
|
Translate from English into:
|
|
| "Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal" | Login/Create an Account | 8 comments |
|
| | Comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
Re: (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Monday, 10 March 2008 | | Another outrage against a unique and highly important megalithic site. The lane between the Rollrights and the Whispering Knights is busy enough as it is - quite dangerous for visitors. I cannot imagine how anyone will be able to cross the road if it is much busier. No doubt someone will get knocked down if it goes ahead. The traffic already imparts it's noise and pollution onto these magical stones - why on earth are they thinking of adding more to it? Ideally the whole site would be kept as quiet and peaceful as possible. I am fairly certain there will be protests if this plan gets the go ahead. I can and will organise dozens of activists to fight this disgusting suggestion. Think on West Oxfordshire County Council . . . | [ Reply to This ]
|
Re: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 | Yes I am a human and am extremely worried about what the bureaucratic authorities are doing to our environment. Have they no respect. These wonderful sites, and the world in general, is only on loan to us and it is our duty to protect for the future generations of humans to enjoy and learn from. We in the 20th and 21st centuries, seem hell bent on destroying everything that stands in our path, in the name of pollution etc. Have they no souls?
Liz :o) | [ Reply to This ]
|
Re: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Saturday, 15 March 2008 | Hi
Ref Tom Wilsons site he has no data under accuracy. My son and I were in England in June 2004 and visited the rollrights. My GPS gave 51deg 58.55, 001 deg 34.25 while standing at the centre of the circle. Hope this helps.
My hobby is in ancient measures (metrology) and I wondered if the Rollrights and other circles and ellipses were measured out using a standard measure. My research says they were. If anyone is interested they are welcome to contact me at scullymolder@optusnet.com.au.
Best wishes
Jim Wakefield
Queensland
Australia
| [ Reply to This ]
|
Re: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Tuesday, 25 March 2008 | Are these planners mad?
We have seen way to much of our heritage disappear under bulldozers this past 50 years. It’s too late, when it’s too late to wish it had not happened.
There has got to be a way these intelligent planners could find a way of getting from A-Z with respect to those who placed these stones 4,500 years ago.
Colin Andrews
Admirer of the British countryside and heritage
CT, USA.
| [ Reply to This ]
|
Re: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Wednesday, 26 March 2008 | O dear this is depressing news. As I write from Colorado I want to shout "does no one understand how precious and valuable those stones are ?" I mean don't you all think the ancestors and gaurdians of the stones are angry enough at us stupid humans without the planning comittees making more serious mistakes ? The little road is too congested as is and just where can the road be expaneded with out adding injury to the site ? There must be a better way !!! Please consider that damage once done is not repairable.
love and blessings,
Rev. Gail Finlay
Greencircle Ministries
Colorado springs Colorado USA
finedragon@juno.com | [ Reply to This ]
|
Re: Rollright Stones under threat from Chipping Norton traffic proposal (Score: 0)
by Anonymous on Thursday, 24 April 2008 | h_fenton not logged in:
anyone know which authortity is currently responsible for the road past the rollright stones? since parts of this road including the stretch next to the kings men are in warwickshire.
if there was more traffic past the stones would that reduce the number of locals sat in the layby there smoking dope and whatever else they might do. | [ Reply to This ]
|
|
Main News
