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From: "Jo Makepeace" (webmaster@schnews.org.uk)
Subject: SchNEWS 596, Friday 13th July 2007
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2007 12:16:33 +0100
Rotherwas Ribbon to be concreted over (Herts)
MONU-MENTAL
Herefordshire council are planning to tarmac over their recently discovered henge, the Rotherwas Ribbon. Cue a predictable story about a new road, a secretive decision process and dodgy arguments...
The bronze age serpent-shaped ribbon of stones on a hillside, uncovered in the last few weeks by road-building construction workers is unlike anything discovered anywhere in Europe and something the council's own archaeologist has described as having international significance.
The council themselves have come up with a whole new line in eco-preservation arguments and are ridiculously attempting to claim they want to protect the site for future generations, and the best way to do this is... by completely concreting it over. It would then just be a handy coincidence that this new pile of concrete would be perfectly located for a £12.5 million relief road to be built across it, largely for the benefit of lorries wanting to pound their way to a nearby industrial park. Genius! Once climate change has destroyed industrial society, future generations can chip away at all the concrete with pick axes until the ancient monument is revealed perfectly preserved for their enjoyment.
Campaigners are calling for an immediate halt to work on the road to allow time for proper consideration of its importance and a campaign to get English Heritage to designate it a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The council still seem hellbent on paving the way for the road, being funded by a consortium of regional development quango 'Advantage West Midlands' and housing developers. Have backhanders and conflicts of interest been oiling the wheels by any chance?
Local opposition is growing and there is even talk of digger-blocking actions.
For more info see http://www.rotherwasribbon.com
road protests (current)
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