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Avebury road closure?

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tjj T
tjj Feb 15, 2015 11:02:26
Replying to nigelswift

nigelswift wrote:
Having gone through it all it seems that on the road past the WKA the verges are getting nibbled due to people having to squeeze by large tractors coming the other way etc. That's a problem shared with tens of thousands of narrow country roads and is solved by having wider sections every hundred yards, (or by placing a few concrete blocks where it's happening) not by closing them, so I reckon there's a bit of kidology going on.

Apparently IF the erosion carried on it would affect archaeology. The crucial word is IF. Prevent it then! I'll put a couple of stones there if they want, it'll stop it instantly, and I won't charge...

I have to admit Nigel, this is not something I personally feel strongly about - more a matter for local residents. However, went back to the Summary version of the 'Stonehenge and Avebury WHS Management Plan 2015' to check the wording of 'Aims' regarding 'Roads and Traffic' (see below). I'm happy to take it at face value.

Aim 6: Reduce significantly the negative impact of roads and traffic on the WHS and its attributes of OUV (Outstanding Universal Value) and increase sustainable access to the WHS:
Policy 6a – Identify and implement measures to reduce the negative impacts of roads, traffic and parking on the WHS and to improve road safety and the ease and confidence with which residents and visitors can explore the WHS
Policy 6b – Manage vehicular access to byways within the WHS to avoid damage to archaeology, improve safety and encourage exploration of the landscape on foot whilst maintaining access for emergency, operational and farm vehicles and land owners.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Feb 15, 2015 11:15:36
Replying to tjj

Sadly I suffer from chronic suspicion and I reckon just about every word of that was written with an eye to justifying what is now being publicly supported at Stonehenge.

I also wonder whether, when it came to it, people with blue badges would be allowed down the WKA road and to park there. If they were then there would be virtually no physical change so what would be the point of closing it to others? In fact, if blue badges are allowed it would be logical they'd need to construct laybys for them - yet the document moans about informal laybys having been formed. Something funny is going on IMO.

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