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Six minutes to save 5,000 years of history

George Chaplin | 21.07.2005 12:04 | Culture | Ecology | Globalisation | World

The planning process has started for Thornborough Henges. After lengthy delays caused by the applicants failure to provide key information to planners North Yorkshire Councty council met for the first time to discuss the application this week.

10,000 signatures on the petition, 1,500 objections - TimeWatch mean business
10,000 signatures on the petition, 1,500 objections - TimeWatch mean business

10,000 petition signatures and 1,500 objections - TimeWatch mean business
10,000 petition signatures and 1,500 objections - TimeWatch mean business


Six Minutes to Save 5,000 Years of History.

Objectors trying to save the ritual landscape of the Thornborough Henges, Britain's largest ancient religious site, have been awarded SIX MINUTES to speak in defence of the Neolithic landscape at the main planning meeting, to be held later this autumn.

During a planning and regulatory functions committee of North Yorkshire's councillors today, 19th July, the members discussed Tarmac Northern's application to extend the Nosterfield quarrying operations, which will encroach on the ritual landscape of the Thornborough Henges for the first time.

Quarrying operations have been carried out in the area for more than forty years, but it was not until the operators of the Nosterfield Quarry, owned by Tarmac Northern Ltd. was forced to record archaeology on site that the true extent of the loss of archaeology in the area was revealed.

As little as ten years ago council archaeologists believed there was little or no archaeology contained in the land surrounding the Thornborough Henges - three massive earth circles that spread out over a mile and create what many regard as the largest ritual gathering place ever created in prehistoric Britain.

Following Tarmac's release of their archaeology reports, archaeologists and locals were astounded at the amount of important archaeology that was being lost to the quarry, despite assurances that nationally important archaeology would be preserved in-situ (in the ground).

From then on, both local and national groups have rallied round to create an unprecedented volume of protest about the continued quarrying of the area and things look set to come to a head in under two months when council planners will meet to decide the fate of Ladybridge Farm on September 20th.

"Six minutes is not long to describe the importance of a site that was virtually unknown just three years ago!" Said TimeWatch.org Chairman George Chaplin, "But at least this is twice as long as the usual three minutes objectors get. We have six minutes to plead the case for 5,000 years of history; if we fail it will all be quarried in four years!"

Council planners agreed to hold the planning meeting at a location close to Thornborough and the venue will be announced later.

TimeWatch recently handed North Yorhshire County Council 1,500 letters of objection to the planning application and 10,000 signatures on a petition demanding a "no quarry zone" around the henges.

TimeWatch have made their response to the Ladybridge Quarry application available to the public via their website - www.timewatch.org.

George Chaplin
- e-mail: info@timewatch.org
- Homepage: http://www.timewatch.org

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Save Thornborough from Ignorance

21.07.2005 14:09

It makes one wonder why North Yorkshire County Council employ archaeologists who, contrary to all other proffessional opinion, don't seem able to recognise Thornborough as one of the most signifant areas of archaelogical interest in this country, even when it's right under their noses? As the people of North Yorshire are paying these peoples wages shouldn't they be now held accountable for the destruction that has already happened in this area, and replaced with people who can do the job, before any further destruction is allowed to continue. Is it just coincidence that Tarmac's archaeologist, employed to investigate this site, formerly worked for the Council?

John Knott


Query

21.07.2005 21:01

The designation and protection of ancient monuments is the responsibility of English Heritage. Development which affects the setting or integrity of a monument is a planning consideration. What are the responses from EH and other "heritage" consultees?

Paranoid Pete


RE:Query

22.07.2005 12:08

The last comment was that they were firmly opposed to further quarrying around Thornborough including Ladybridge.

They have just submitted their formal response to the planning application and I've heard that it continues along this thread.

This commitment to the archaeology of the henges does not extend to scheduling known archaeology on Ladybridge that belonged to the Neolithic people visiting the henges.

My understanding is that English Heritage these days only schedule archaeology that is under threat, unless someone is threatening it.

Jim Bob


Query II

22.07.2005 21:13

"This commitment to the archaeology of the henges does not extend to scheduling known archaeology on Ladybridge that belonged to the Neolithic people visiting the henges. "

I'd check that. My recollection is that the Ancient Monuments Act empowers (but not obliges) EH to schedule all sites which may be of national interest - "national interest" is applied much more widely than you'd think, so don't be put off.

Are EH appearing at the PLI and do they intent to use Counsel? They would be a formidable opponent for the applicant.

Paranoid Pete


Hope so

24.07.2005 10:46

They have been given a six minute slot of their own - they have not confirmed they intend to speak yet.

Jim Bob


Jim bob

24.07.2005 11:01

"I'd check that. My recollection is that the Ancient Monuments Act empowers (but not obliges) EH to schedule all sites which may be of national interest - "national interest" is applied much more widely than you'd think, so don't be put off."

They seem to have problems answering letters addressing this issue - I suggest most letters to English Heritage would help - Why not go to the top?

Dr Simon Thurley, English Heritage, PO Box 569, Swindon, SN2 2YP England

Dear Dr Thurley,

Given the extreme threat posed by quarrying to the archaeology now proven to be located within Ladybridge Farm in North Yorkshire (Thornborough Henges) I am concerned that this archaeology has not been scheduled as a national monument - being a part of the Thornborough Henges complex - a site that has lost a great deal of archaeology in recent years I believe I am safe in the assumption that this is of national importance, is extremely rare and is under a very great threat.

Given that English Heritage has known about this threat for a number of years and has funded a ten year research program whose output has made firm statements regarding the importance of Ladybridge - would it not be wise to schedule the site now rather than when its too late?

RE:Query II