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>Exactly right Janet. English Heritage is very conscious that finding the
>right long term solution to the Silbury problems should not be compromised
>by any intermediate measures or knee-jerk reactions to the situation.
Why do individuals choose to feel threatened by a something that is
aimed at getting better funding for EH and NT? *That* is a knee-
jerk reaction, as is the assumption, despite what's written down
very clearly, that we want the Hill filled with gravel and
concrete and compost or whatever's lying about. Protesters are
asking for the Hill to be made an urgent priority, to be
investigated and repaired as quickly as possible, via the better
funding of EH. How on earth can you object to that? Are you
saying, as the Avebury World Heritage Site Management Officer,
that you object to better funding of EH?
>I also agree strongly with Andy Johnson's message emphasising the worries
>about F&M in this part of Wiltshire. Restrictions have only just lifted in
>the Avebury area. There was a suspected case of F&M in the World Heritage
>Site last week, and several confirmed cased in the area in last few weeks.
>Most of the footpaths are still closed. Landowners will be distressed at
>the prospect of a large gathering, even if confined to the highways and
>pavements around Silbury.
All Landowners? Have you done a survey?
Some landowners are distressed at any number of things. If public
movements were dictated by how distressed some landowners feel we'd
never leave home. And let's not get too sanctimonious about F&M
in Wilts, since, although the vast majority of farmers have been
completely above board, sheep movements in some areas have not been
all they should have.
A suspected case of F&M is not a confirmed case.
That's why some restrictions have been lifted.
Whatever, foot and mouth restrictions *are* lifted
from some areas of Avebury which means that, unless
you know more about F&M than MAFF, people can begin
visiting Avebury again. When we arrive on the 19th
we'll keep to the road, as we've said all along. And presumably
people who live in Avebury are going to work and school, risking
bringing in those dire foreign (ie Swindon) diseases.
Melanie, you have the opportunity to share information or get
bolshy about something that you should be supporting.
So far, the mere mention of a protest
against the poor funding of EH has brought forth more information
about the disgraceful situation at Silbury than was available for
a whole year, and certainly more discussion. Any number of
archaeologists were unaware that Silbury even had a hole in it,
and now they know. Presumably that's a good thing, or are we just
supposed to tug our forelocks and be grateful to our Betters?
You serve the WHS, not Local people in a Local area being
Local. You make them sound like something out of The League of
Gentlemen! Local people will be as devastated as anyone else
if Silbury Hill dries up or falls over or crumbles away or
are you suggesting that they don't care? They do, if the
number of local people who are offering us the use of their
homes to meet in and saying they'll join us are anything to
go by.
Silbury Hill and its proper repair, based on what's
needed rather than "I'm Just Doing My Job" procedures, are
what's on the line here. That point seems rather to've slipped.
bw
Clare Slaney
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road