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did you just say what I think you said?

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Moth M
Moth Oct 29, 2005 00:49:24
Replying to PeterH

Oh, you've persuaded me - I'll not bother going if it's just wasting money & time.... ;^)

Seriously, I think I kind of know what you mean. But one of the biggest troubles has been that all the time & money on reports etc hasn't been properly 'open' to the public (whose money it is). Most of the meaningful stuff has only been made available as a result of tenacious 'badgering' (and even then, only since EH changed their freedom of information policy).

I think I also kind of understand what Tuesday means. The majority of times, I'd probably trust archaeos etc to make decisions on stuff. But the Silbury problem is an ENGINEERING problem and from the little they've published and the extra info Nigel etc have managed to weedle out of them, I'm far from convinced they're addressing it as primarily an engineering problem.

I genuinely feel that those of us (esp those like Nigel & VBB) who have taken a big interest in Silbury over the years have a right to know why this seems to be the case and why they're choosing a method of repair that from their own reports (once you get to look at them) seem to be unnecessarily invasive and unnecessarily expensive.

And you never know, something that's said at the meeting MIGHT just make a 'difference'. Admittedly my hopes aren't high, but if people don't go, they certainly won't make a difference.

But that's why, for example, some of us formed Heritage Action (who are starting to 'make a difference' here & there) and some people just talk.

love

Moth

I Ishmael
Ishmael Oct 29, 2005 00:58:47
Replying to Moth

>But the Silbury problem is an ENGINEERING problem

Um... And an archaeological problem. After all its an ancient monument as well as a building.

>I genuinely feel that those of us (esp those like Nigel & VBB) who have taken a big interest in Silbury over the years

thanks for forgetting all the demo's I've organised and the letters I've written to Eh and the local press etc etc etc

>And you never know, something that's said at the meeting MIGHT just make a 'difference'.

Not a chance IMHO

>but if people don't go, they certainly won't make a difference.

Having checked my diary I find I am booked to watch Dick & Dom In da House that morning! Doh!

N nigelswift
nigelswift Oct 29, 2005 10:02:29
Replying to Moth

Thanks Moth for expressing it all so clearly. People get the democracy they deserve, or struggle for.

The democratic struggle against the delay has been a total failure. Last December they finally admitted the damage was ongoing. So delay = damage and the failure to shake them out of their bureaucratic torpor HAS resulted in extra damage. Public pressure DOES matter.

Now, there's a second chance to apply democratic pressure constructively. They intend to tunnel yet they haven't shown why. (If anyone here can show otherwise the meeting can be cancelled). The sole point of the meeting is for EH to show the public the reasons why tunnelling is best. A simple democratic obligation. Numbers one, two and three on our democratic wish list ought to be presentations by top independent structural specialists stating that in their considered opinion tunnelling is the least damaging option. As Peter said, much has been said by EH but the clear recommendation of the only people who are truly qualified to make the decision is entirely missing. For tunnelling to go ahead without that would be a disgrace to democracy and mustn't happen.

I, and perhaps others, and perhaps everyone, is entitled to be bitter. This meeting hasn't been offered as a gift to the nation nor as a response to a perceived democratic obligation. It's happening solely because HA and others called for it and it's been extracted like pulling teeth. At the very last minute. Only when tender documents for tunnelling will have been sent out. It isn't being widely publicised, it was originally scheduled for a venue that housed 30 people and a niggardly 120 minutes have been granted (from which lizard talk must be deducted no doubt). In all the circumstances, sniping at HA's efforts or implying that the meeting is unnecessary implies that it doesn't matter at all that the public isn't told, in Moth's words, "why they're choosing a method of repair that from their own reports (once you get to look at them) seem to be unnecessarily invasive and unnecessarily expensive." (To which I'd add - and apparently involves extra damage by a factor of TWELVE. Read the reports).