Solstice car ban reinforced

Submitted by coldrum on Monday, 11 June 2007 Page Views: 5378

Neolithic and Bronze AgeCountry: England County: Wiltshire Type: Stone Circle

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With just under a month to go until Summer Solstice at Avebury, the National Trust, which owns and manages Avebury, Wiltshire Police, Kennet District Council, Avebury Parish Council, English Heritage and Avebury Sacred Sites Forum have joined together to publicise arrangements for this year's Solstice.

The combined organisations are advising people planning to attend to come by public transport due to the limited nature of car parking provision available on the night of Solstice, Wednesday 20 June. In addition, high-sided vehicles, including campervans, caravans and motorhomes, will not be able to access the car park at Avebury as in order to comply with an Enforcement Notice the National Trust has installed a height barrier (see Notes).

Scott Green, National Trust Property Manager for Avebury, on behalf of all the organisations, said: "We hope all those planning to attend Solstice on the night of 20 June have a peaceful and enjoyable time and respect the village, surrounding areas and the World Heritage Site.

"This year, there will be very limited parking and, therefore, we strongly advise people to come by public transport. When the parking area is full on the evening of 20 June, there will be nowhere else to park in Avebury or the immediate surrounding areas of Beckhampton, West Kennet and Winterbourne Monkton. On-road parking is not permitted and anyone parking illegally is likely to receive a fixed penalty notice and/or be towed away. This year, due to the Enforcement Notice, there will be no provision for campervans, caravans and other high-sided vehicles. Please look at alternative ways of coming to Avebury or use the regular bus services from Swindon and Devizes (see notes)."

The National Trust will be distributing Conditions of Entry details to ensure an enjoyable and safe Solstice and to minimise disruption to the village and its residents. The conditions include respecting the unique values of the World Heritage Site by not climbing on the stones, lighting fires or pitching tents. Visitors are also requested to respect the village and its inhabitants by clearing up all rubbish, not setting up tents, keeping noise levels down and not setting off fireworks or playing amplified music.

The National Trust, with other organisations and stakeholders, is still working towards a medium-term solution to parking and camping at Avebury, which it hopes will be in place in future years. An options appraisal will form the basis of an ongoing consultation process with stakeholders on how best to work towards a consensual and sustainable solution to these twin issues.

ENDS Further press information from: National Trust: Alex Brannen, Regional Communications Officer, 01985 843592 / 07909 875889, [email protected] Other organisations' press contacts: Kennet District Council - Michelle Ridgeway, [email protected], 01380 734 651 Wiltshire Police - Steve Coxhead, Head of Media Service, 0845 408 7000 World Heritage Site Officer - Sarah Simmonds: 01380 734820, 07966 900324, [email protected] Notes to editors: Public transport details: a regular bus service operates (www.wdbus.co.uk - route 5 & 6) from Swindon and Devizes, hourly during the day (last bus - late afternoon) and also from Swindon and Trowbridge (www.stagecoachbus.com - Route 49) hourly from early morning until early evening (last bus to Avebury - 19:05 from Swindon and 20:00 from Devizes).

The Enforcement Notice served by Kennet District Council, which came into force on 1 January this year, obliges the Trust to stop tolerating the occupation of the car park for overnight stays at pagan observances. In order to comply with the enforcement notice the Trust has successfully applied for planning permission to install a height barrier at the car park, which will prevent the entrance of caravans and motorhomes, which are specifically cited in the Enforcement Notice. The height barrier will prevent all high-sided vehicles from entering the car park, irrespective of their use, as the Trust cannot and would not discriminate against one group of people at one particular time of year.

Wiltshire Police will be policing Solstice as a normal event in support of the National Trust.

The National Trust will be charging for its car park at the standard daily rate of £5 (£3 after 2:30pm). The car park will open at 8pm on Wednesday 20 June.

Silbury Hill car park will be closed over this period.

thisiswiltshire.

Contributor Bio for coldrum: Based in Milkyway, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Avebury.

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