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tjj Sep 1, 2012 13:29:27
Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:
Its no more offensive than saying Keep off the Grass at Warwick Castle, which people do in their millions.

I'm not saying lock up all sites, or any. Avebury is open and works OK. Stonehenge is partly open and works OK. Im merely saying maybe Silbury could be made a site in which respect for prehistoric sites is given substance. Its hardly an offensive suggestion considering its a concrete proposal for improving public attitudes towards thousands of prehistoric sites.

Other than words, where else are efforts being made to improve public attitudes towards thousands of prehistoric sites?

I didn't even say stop people visiting. Just visit by prior appointment in a structured fashion. The proposal isnt primarily about Silbury its about establishing an example of respect for monuments and notices but if youre going to insist on a right of instant access for all despite the notices then obviously the suggestion will fail. But why? You dont get that at Stonehenge, and you CAN go there by prior appointment and visit in a structured way. What exactly are you saying the idea would deprive people of? The right to jump the fence without permission?

I agree with your two posts - all this stuff about 'its our temple, feck off' (though can't imagine that was the word used) is misguided at best but probably just arrogant. Is there no possibility of actually fining people people caught up there. I'm a fairly tolerate sort person but there does come a time when right and wrong are clearly defined. Smoking is a fairly good analogy ... its only a short while ago that people smoked in pubs, restaurants, buses and even cinemas. It took legislation and the policing of the general public to stop it - it is no longer socially acceptable to do something which society tolerated a couple of decades ago. The threat of up to a £1000 fine would make people think twice.

T tjj
tjj Sep 1, 2012 21:31:09
Replying to tjj

tjj wrote:
Is there no possibility of actually fining people people caught up there. I'm a fairly tolerate sort person but there does come a time when right and wrong are clearly defined. Smoking is a fairly good analogy ... its only a short while ago that people smoked in pubs, restaurants, buses and even cinemas. It took legislation and the policing of the general public to stop it - it is no longer socially acceptable to do something which society tolerated a couple of decades ago. The threat of up to a £1000 fine would make people think twice.
Ah! I've had some information given to me regarding the above ...

Trespass is not a criminal offence as such. It only becomes criminal when damage takes place. Damage has to be proved and priced and that's very difficult to prove...

On a secondary point it is likely that any trespasser who fell down the 'hill' would have a good case against the owner/curator on the grounds of H/S and the fact that they hadn't done enough to prevent trespass. (Thanks T)

A bit of a Catch 22 for EH.