Maeshowe

There is something sad about the erosion of tourism to these far off isles. A way of life slowly disrupted by cruise ships and prehistoric tourism, just to get a glimpse of something in the flesh and in doing create more car parks (and roads?) just for the sound of money in the till.

You live in Aberdeenshire Drew, so not too far for you. There are many people willing to make the journey to NE Scotland and take the ferry over there. That's what I did, as a tourist I confess. Had dreamt of going for some time and my visit to the Ring of Bodgar remains vivid in my memory - the sky and sea-loch so very, very blue that day. Would love to go back.

I would hate it to turn into another Stonehenge. At least Orkney has the advantage of not attracting visitors so much in the winter. I've read the news link and it sounds as though all concerned are being very mindful of safety issues for the local school.

My school utilised the Tufty Club (Road Safety Crossing Scheme - I still have my badge though I don't wear it) and a lollipop person. The busy main road we crossed also had a every-10-minutes-service-bus route as well as coal lorries and loads a cars. In the twelve years (Aug 1967- June1980) at the primary and adjacent secondary school no-one was injured by a road accident.

There is nothing to this story which could not be accommodated by a revamped Tufty Club Scheme and a paid lollipop person.

Good grief.

But I do feel that this is NOT about Maes Howe road safety, but a protracted scheme to restrict public access across Ness of Brodgar, Stenness, Barnhouse and Maes Howe in advance of an attempt at major "heritage"tourist development. You simply cannot have people walking about, looking at things, taking in the sites for free... you need to manage them, ticket them and restrict them... but people don't like that... so you have to make it about "public safety", "road safety", "school child safety", "traffic management".

I agree. Citing 'children's safety' could well be seen as a cynical attempt to pre-empt rational debate... such as 'why can't Historic Scotland use some of the cash it fleeces from tourists at the cash cow sites to finance a zebra crossing?'. Seeing as the highly subsidised 'government' neglects its heritage. I've come across so many trashed sites during my wanderings in Scotland that I do begin to wonder if they take themselves too literally... the welfare of the 'Prehistoric' being out of scope? No money in it. Unless you can create a " Ness of Brodgar experience". Tell people what to think, instead of challenging them to think for themselves.

Jeez Louise! I hadn't even considered the idea of an "unmanned" Zebra Crossing. Genius Gladman! What was I thinking... (or NOT thinking)?! The zebra crossing!It utilises an existing set of technology (coloured lightbulbs) and an audio signal for when it is safe to cross. The button is pressed, the lights change, traffic stops, people cross, lights flash and everyone gets on with their day. There is one down my way at Carlops by the Pentlands which is solar powered and is an "on-demand" one for use by riders of the Icelandic Ponies at Windygowl to cross the A702. The through traffic is NOT interrupted unless an Icelandic Rider presses to cross. If that ain't a niche pedestrian crossing I don't know what is. They can't say that you couldn't have similar one for a tomb.

I'm not sure the "Heritage Industry" will like the pedestrian crossing idea though. Maybe the kerbs at either side of the road will be inadequate. Possible consultation exercise there. No wait a minute... what about a tunnel? A tunnel that leads to The Brodgar Experience... With an exit through the Gift Shop...

Howburn Digger's on the money.......they've got a building near Stenness which they've made redundant and is just right for controlling access to the "honeypots". It's scandalous tourist-think.

Sorry! I have committed the cardinal sin of confusing a zebra crossing (flashing belisha beacons - manned or unmanned - but usually "activated" by motorists noticing pedestrians wishing to cross) with a Pelican Crossing (traffic lights instead of beacons and you push the button to stop the traffic - unmanned).

There is also the Puffin Crossing, very similar to Pelican Crossings but it detects pedestrians wishing to cross using movement detectors and changes the traffic lights accordingly. This of course could be triggered by individual sheep or even small groups of large birds. It could also be triggered by casual passers-by who strayed close to the sensors but had actually no intention of attempting a crossing. A malicious type could also stake out such a crossing for ill-intent and intentionally stop the traffic with a furtive foot or hand movement (though this could also be done with a standard Pelican Crossing through maliciously pushing the button for "kicks").

I hope all this helps.