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LINKED PAGE - MORE ABOUT HERITAGE ACTION'S VIEWS

Heritage Action's views

It is a mark of a civilised society that it cherishes its heritage. In the case of Silbury that duty of care is of crucial national and international importance.

Heritage Action believes that English Heritage has interpreted its role as statutory guardian of this national and international treasure in an unfortunate manner. Silbury is the joint heritage of the people of Britain, and the world. The public should not have been excluded from knowing what has been found out, or denied the opportunity to take part in discussions about Silbury's future.

While some matters quite properly fall within the confidentiality parameters of the Freedom of Information Act, there is much available information that seems needlessly to have been withheld - without this or any other justification.

Sadly, English Heritage seems to have adopted a closed, fortress-like stand on the Silbury situation. Combined with Silbury having already remained unrepaired for longer than it took to build the Channel Tunnel, this has been a potent recipe for the growth of widespread public disquiet. The safety of the monument and the competence of its guardianship are in serious doubt.

We believe that by providing information and involving the international public, it would have been possible to gather far more expertise and intelligent opinion than can possibly be encompassed within English Heritage and its consultants.

We believe that this should have been the basis for the whole process and is how things must progress from now on. We call for an urgent reversal, for the sake of both Silbury Hill and English Heritage.

The time that has passed since the collapse of part of Silbury Hill has been more than sufficient for the necessary investigation, planning, repair and consolidation work.
We lack confidence in assurances that the monument is currently stable and we doubt that a definitive expert opinion to that effect can be obtained, bearing in mind that the internal cavities which have already collapsed several times, are in porous chalk rubble.

Speculation and widespread concern has been caused by the delay and extreme lack of information given to the public. We call upon the responsible body, English Heritage, to end this speculation.

These 3 points are the basis of our online worldwide petition.

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