Avebury & the Marlborough Downs 64
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Avebury & the Marlborough Downs

Avebury WHS

caldbec C
caldbec Feb 5, 2008 09:03:46
Replying to nigelswift

Howdy Do!

My visit was interesting to say the least. Sat morning I met with members of the parish council who gave me a guided tour of 'their' version of Avebury. That was very interesting, even though their idea of heritage preservation was based on aesthetics (i.e. the garage site, muddy farms!?) not on actual heritage preservation. It was more of a 'we think it will look prettier this way'. Spent the afternoon walking the henge looking at damage to the earthwork, tourist erosion..oh and the vistor facilities....bloody £5 to park too! Luckily I borrowed a NT card of a mate so didn't pay. finished the day talking to some good folk who were camping in the car park and celebrating Imbolc...that was good to get a non government, non acedemic view of Heritage.

Went back on Sunday with my better half and dragged her to the Sanctuary, and then to Overton Down to check on the condition of many of the barrows there....animal and tree damage mostly.

I can send you a copy of my findings when I have finished writing them if you like?

Caldy :O)


Hi Caldbec, how did your visit to Avebury go?

I'm quite interested in how competing interests are resolved in these sorts of contexts and would be grateful if you could share any conclusions you may have come to about what the "ideal" WHS governance structure would be.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Feb 5, 2008 09:27:50
Replying to caldbec

"their idea of heritage preservation was based on aesthetics (i.e. the garage site, muddy farms!?) not on actual heritage preservation."

That's precisely the impression they gave in their submission.
And presumably the Kennet planning committee were of a similar mind (or if they had other thoughts they certainly weren't the heritage preservation ones embodied in the Management Plan.)

So the ticklish problem you have to confront is whether those criteria ought to be the governing ones - or perhaps more pertinently ought it to be those two bodies or those who are committed to the Management Plan who have the final say? I know you don't like dictatorship but on the other hand isn't the cost of democracy sometimes a bit too high? ;)

I can send you a copy of my findings when I have finished writing them if you like?

Yes please! Click on my name for my address. Thanks very much.

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