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THOUSANDS more people have put their names to a campaign to protect an important Neolithic site known as the "Stonehenge of the North".
The Friends of Thornborough Henges, the pressure group set up to fight for the preservation of the earthworks near Ripon, have submitted two new petitions to North Yorkshire Council in support of their case, and are demanding an end to open-cast quarrying around the ancient monument.
Tarmac is in dispute with local campaigners, who say its extraction of sand and gravel from land around the henges – which are 5,500 years old – is destroying their setting.
One petition, compiled digitally, contains almost 5,500 signatures, collected from all over the world via the group's website –
http://www.friendsofthornborough.org.uk
The second is a conventional paper petition signed by more than 2,000 residents of North Yorkshire, as well as the entire archaeology department of Nottinghamshire Council.
It says: "The internationally important Thornborough Moor and its surrounding area with its natural, historic, hydrological and archaeological features are under threat from quarrying. Please sign below if you are opposed to such developments."
Friends' chairman John Lowry said: "The voice of both local people and international opinion is clear and unequivocal.
"Such unprecedented public opinion cannot be ignored by our elected councillors, who must now prove they have changed their attitude to heritage preservation by voting to reject Tarmac's application to extend its present quarry on to Ladybridge Farm.
"As long as this mining company retains ownership of Thornborough Moor and its gravel deposits, the spotlight of concerned world opinion will remained focused on North Yorkshire."
The monument, one of Britain's most important Neolithic sites, is often described as the Stonehenge of the North.
Campaigners would like the surrounding area to become known as Thornborough Plain, similar to Salisbury Plain, where the henges' southern counterpart was built.
At present a conservation plan for the area is being prepared by consultants Atkins Heritage. It was commissioned by English Heritage and the Thornborough Henges Consultation Group.
One proposal to protect the landscape and archaeology is to create an eight-square mile "exclusion zone" around the monument.
An area under investigation includes the villages of Nosterfield and Thornborough, and extends to the outskirts of the villages of Well, Kirklington, Howgrave and West Tanfield.
Project manager Andrew Croft said the aim of the plan, due to be completed by next March, will be to aid decisions on planning applications, archaeological research and landscape management.
But local landowners and farmers are concerned any such controls could hit their livelihoods, affecting land use such as the permitted depth of ploughing.
The area covered by the plan includes Nosterfield Quarry, which has a pending planning application for quarrying at Ladybridge Farm, which at its nearest point is more than half a mile from the henges.
Tarmac has called for clear information on any possible restrictions.
The Friends of Thornborough Henges have suggested farmers could receive subsidies or compensation in return for public access to the henges, which could generate income for the area as a tourist attraction
22 June 2005
http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?sectionid=1084&articleid=1061882
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