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Silbury's structural integrity

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Moth M
Moth Jan 30, 2008 10:26:59
Replying to jimit

Fwiw, I was dreading it - especially having read that webpage, I thought it was going to be dreadful.

And it didn't change my mind! As is becoming common on both ITN & more recently BBC News, the main 'story' was the BBC's 'scoop' of being the last in/out.

There were a few moments that worked - like the miners that Jim mentioned. And a few very scary moments. I loved the bit when Amanda Chadburn said when she was told a hole had appeared in Silbury, she "Didn't think much about it" (or words to that effect) - in a "I didn't bat an eyelid/it didn't worry me" way. Until she saw it & was horrified. Incredible!!!

She's 'in charge' of one of the most important monuments in Britain & she wasn't worried when she heard a big hole had appeared in it!!! Perhaps I should admire her honesty? After all, if I was her now and had felt like that then, the last thing I would have admitted is that that was my first reaction. But then I vaguely work in PR. Oh, so does she, as she was talking on national TV. :^(

And of course I hardly need say that there was no mention that the collapse was 5 years ago and that they did or seemed to do nowt for most of that time - despite Ms Chadburn's horror when she DID see the hole.

I really hope it's all over & the work has been successful. And if it has, all credit to EH for a successful operation. But imo it was only luck that meant the situation hadn't got beyond repair when they finally decided to do something. Esp given some of the things that were said about the structural integrity during the repair - particularly during the 2007 downpours.

Like I say, above all, I hope that's an end to it & that all's well that ends well.

love

Moth

N nigelswift
nigelswift Jan 30, 2008 11:05:09
Replying to Moth

Not five years Moth. Nearly eight. :(

above all, I hope that's an end to it
Amen to that, to which I'd add "without anyone getting hurt".

It ought to be made clear though that it isn't over yet and it needs everyone to cross all their fingers and toes. The holes in the side have been growing progressively over the past few weeks and now look nothing like the last photo of them contained in EH's last Update but one nor like any other photo currently on the net. The backfilling of the tunnel hasn't reached the point underneath them yet and so there's reason to think they will keep on growing each time it rains until then.