The National Trust has today presented its options appraisal to Kennet District Council with regard to the future of car parking and overnight stays during pagan observances at Avebury. The 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.
Concurrently, the Trust has also withdrawn its appeal to an enforcement notice served on its main Avebury visitor car park by Kennet District Council and submitted a planning application to allow it to comply with the notice (1).
The National Trust has been working towards submitting an options appraisal to identify potential sites for the creation of a car park and overnight accommodation at pagan observances. Any solution needs to balance the interests of Avebury’s disparate groups as well as protect the archaeology of the World Heritage Site, minimise disruption to the village, ensure access for worship for the pagan community and conform with police concerns over traffic flows.
The appraisal submitted to Kennet outlines nine potential sites (2). Following discussions, it is evident that no agreement exists among the groups of stakeholders on a preferred option, and therefore the Trust will not be submitting a planning application based on one of the nine options. The appraisal will, therefore, lead future discussions on a solution and hopefully be the launch pad for finding a consensus among all interest groups.
Laurie Clark, National Trust North Area Manager, said: “The National Trust is committed to working towards finding a consensual and sustainable solution to the issues of parking and overnight stays for pagan observances at Avebury. This means in the short term complying with the enforcement notice served on our car park by Kennet and, in tandem, working towards a temporary compromise solution for 2007 pagan celebrations.”
In September, Kennet District Council issued the Trust with an enforcement notice on its visitor car park in Avebury. The notice obliges the Trust to stop tolerating the occupation of the car park for overnight stays at pagan observances. For the past ten years, the Trust, with Kennet’s full knowledge, has allowed the pagan community to park their motorhomes and vans in the car park to alleviate the potential knock on effect of camping elsewhere in the village or within the World Heritage Site. After a decade of this compromise, Kennet decided to enforce the planning regulations at short notice.
After considering an appeal to the notice, the National Trust has decided to withdraw and comply with planning regulations on its main visitor car park. Despite the Trust’s belief that there has been tolerated long-term use of the car park as a location for overnight stays during pagan observances, the Trust has concluded that there is not enough documented evidence of this established use to support an appeal, particularly as the Planning Inspectorate has determined that the appeal would be heard at an Inquiry. (3)
In order to comply with the enforcement notice, therefore, the Trust has no choice but to apply to Kennet District Council for planning permission to install a height barrier at the car park, which will prevent the entrance of caravans and motorhomes, which are cited in the enforcement notice. It 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. While the Trust regrets having to take this decision, it is the only way that it can comply with the terms of the notice.
Complying with the notice and the erection of the height barrier will not prevent visitors from using the car park to enjoy Avebury or the pagan community carrying out their observances. It only prevents overnight use of the car park by vans, motorhomes and caravans.
Laurie Clark continues: “Despite having to comply with the enforcement notice, we remain committed to finding a solution for overflow car parking at Summer Solstice next year and other pagan observances, as well as a location for overnight stays. Negotiations are continuing with local landowners and farmers to try and agree temporary sites. We would request that all interested groups bear with us while these sensitive negotiations continue.
“In the medium term, we hope the options appraisal will act as a springboard to find a compromise solution for these issues and that all interested parties and stakeholders will engage fully in the consultation process. In the long term, and by this we mean 50 years hence, the National Trust remains committed to removing vehicles from within the World Heritage Site.”

1. The enforcement notice comes into effect on 1 January 2007. It prevents overnight stays by camper vans and other high-sided vehicles in the National Trust’s main visitor car park.

2. Options appraisal
The appraisal looks at nine sites and considers them on the basis of the following:-
Vehicular and pedestrian access, visitor circulation and dispersal, adequate parking and provision for overnight accommodation, Disability Discrimination Act, provision of services such as toilets, archaeological and landscape considerations, community benefit, green transport, environmental, legal and financial considerations.

3. The Trust approached the Avebury Parish Council for written evidence to support the fact that the car park has been used for at least 10 years by vans and motorhomes for overnight accommodation. An insufficient number of members of the Council were willing to support the Trust in its endeavour.

Alex Brannen
Regional Communications Officer, Wessex