Hengest
03-10-2006, 05:27 AM
Our friends a TimeWatch have asked us to send the following to as many people as possible.
Dear friend,
As you may be aware, whilst we have gained a short term victory at
Thornborough due to the Ladybridge Farm quarry application being rejected,
there is every likelihood that this could be overturned on appeal.
Ultimately the planning system is in place to allow developments to proceed,
not to stop them.
There is however, a way that you can help secure a long term cessation of
quarrying within the Thornborough Complex by sending a simple email.
Following protests regarding the quarrying, North Yorkshire County Council
have set up a consultation group to discuss the threats to Thornborough and
as a result a draft conservation plan has been proposed. This is currently
under public consultation and you have until Friday 17th of March to respond
so that you can influence the final plan.
The draft conservation plan is at:
http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/thornborough/
one has to click on Thornborough then scroll down the page to view the draft
plan, this is a very large pdf document that is barely feasible to download
if you are dialup.
Responses need to be sent to thornborough.henges@northyorks.gov.uk
Unfortunately there are a large number of issues within the current plan
that we at TimeWatch feel need to be addressed. For example the current plan
would have little impact on any proposal to quarry Thornborough Moor or
Ladybridge. This may have something to do with Tarmac's senior role within
the plan management committee.
We therefore need to deliver a very firm public response to ensure this plan
is put back on track.
I have created a lengthy analysis of the proposed plan, which I am able to
send to you should you wish to see it (it includes diagrams and is quite
large so I don't want to risk blocking your mail box with it without you
asking for it).
I have created below a sample letter with simple bullet points covering the
major issues. I suggest that you download the conservation plan for yourself
and use my bullet points to inform your reading of the plan and allow you to
create an appropriate response. It is not adviseable to simply send the
bullets as I have written them as your letter will not have the same impact
than you writing your own unique letter.
Please make every effort to respond to this consultation - a well written
conservation plan can serve as a significant defence against development,
especially during a public appeal.
To: thornborough.henges@northyorks.gov.uk
Dear Sir/Madam,
Having read the draft Thornborough Henges Conservation Plan, I have the
following comments:
1. The plan area needs to be expanded to include all of the archaeology of
the Thornborough Complex, a radius of one mile from the major monuments as
requested in the TimeWatch petition would be preferable.
2. The plan needs to be simplified so that its coverage and aims are simply
understood, tourism possibilities should be removed and dealt with in a
separate document in order to ensure there is a clear demarcation between
conservation priorities and those of tourism,
3. The Conservation plan should request that it be accepted as supplementary
guidance for planning purposes.
4. Preservation in-situ of all the archaeology of the complex should be the
top conservation priority.
5. Preservation of the physical and visual setting of the monuments and
archaeological remains of the complex needs to be second priority.
6. Restoration of quarried areas to land levels prior to quarrying,
especially those areas closest to the henges needs to be addressed within
the plan.
7. The plan should specifically address the issue of current and future
quarry proposal and recommend against such developments within the plan
area.
8. The plan should address the issue of plough damage to the archaeology
within the plan area and propose a way of dealing with this that ensure
preservation in-situ of the archaeology.
9. Current public rights of way are suffering from neglect and deliberate
obstruction, these should be addressed within the plan.
10. The plan needs to address the damage to the archaeology within the outer
ditch of the central and southern henges due to the recent hedge planting
within it.
11. The outer bank (not the inner more visible bank) for all three henges is
currently under the plough and this needs to be protected.
12. The cursus at Upsland should also be included in the plan area.
13. Future developments within the plan area need to ensure full and early
public consultation.
14. Decisions regarding the importance of specific features within the plan
area should be in line with recommendations by English Heritage.
15. Free public access to the complex in its entirety desirable.
16. Developments for tourism or other purposes within the plan area should
only be allowed if they do not impact the setting or archaeological remains
of the complex.
17. Tourism should not be allowed to have a detrimental impact on the
setting or ambience of the complex, a wider plan area would allow for
greater public access without significant impact on the complex.
18. TimeWatch are a suitable organisation to speak on my behalf regarding
detailed proposals for this conservation plan.
Regards
Name
Address
Dear friend,
As you may be aware, whilst we have gained a short term victory at
Thornborough due to the Ladybridge Farm quarry application being rejected,
there is every likelihood that this could be overturned on appeal.
Ultimately the planning system is in place to allow developments to proceed,
not to stop them.
There is however, a way that you can help secure a long term cessation of
quarrying within the Thornborough Complex by sending a simple email.
Following protests regarding the quarrying, North Yorkshire County Council
have set up a consultation group to discuss the threats to Thornborough and
as a result a draft conservation plan has been proposed. This is currently
under public consultation and you have until Friday 17th of March to respond
so that you can influence the final plan.
The draft conservation plan is at:
http://www.northyorks.gov.uk/thornborough/
one has to click on Thornborough then scroll down the page to view the draft
plan, this is a very large pdf document that is barely feasible to download
if you are dialup.
Responses need to be sent to thornborough.henges@northyorks.gov.uk
Unfortunately there are a large number of issues within the current plan
that we at TimeWatch feel need to be addressed. For example the current plan
would have little impact on any proposal to quarry Thornborough Moor or
Ladybridge. This may have something to do with Tarmac's senior role within
the plan management committee.
We therefore need to deliver a very firm public response to ensure this plan
is put back on track.
I have created a lengthy analysis of the proposed plan, which I am able to
send to you should you wish to see it (it includes diagrams and is quite
large so I don't want to risk blocking your mail box with it without you
asking for it).
I have created below a sample letter with simple bullet points covering the
major issues. I suggest that you download the conservation plan for yourself
and use my bullet points to inform your reading of the plan and allow you to
create an appropriate response. It is not adviseable to simply send the
bullets as I have written them as your letter will not have the same impact
than you writing your own unique letter.
Please make every effort to respond to this consultation - a well written
conservation plan can serve as a significant defence against development,
especially during a public appeal.
To: thornborough.henges@northyorks.gov.uk
Dear Sir/Madam,
Having read the draft Thornborough Henges Conservation Plan, I have the
following comments:
1. The plan area needs to be expanded to include all of the archaeology of
the Thornborough Complex, a radius of one mile from the major monuments as
requested in the TimeWatch petition would be preferable.
2. The plan needs to be simplified so that its coverage and aims are simply
understood, tourism possibilities should be removed and dealt with in a
separate document in order to ensure there is a clear demarcation between
conservation priorities and those of tourism,
3. The Conservation plan should request that it be accepted as supplementary
guidance for planning purposes.
4. Preservation in-situ of all the archaeology of the complex should be the
top conservation priority.
5. Preservation of the physical and visual setting of the monuments and
archaeological remains of the complex needs to be second priority.
6. Restoration of quarried areas to land levels prior to quarrying,
especially those areas closest to the henges needs to be addressed within
the plan.
7. The plan should specifically address the issue of current and future
quarry proposal and recommend against such developments within the plan
area.
8. The plan should address the issue of plough damage to the archaeology
within the plan area and propose a way of dealing with this that ensure
preservation in-situ of the archaeology.
9. Current public rights of way are suffering from neglect and deliberate
obstruction, these should be addressed within the plan.
10. The plan needs to address the damage to the archaeology within the outer
ditch of the central and southern henges due to the recent hedge planting
within it.
11. The outer bank (not the inner more visible bank) for all three henges is
currently under the plough and this needs to be protected.
12. The cursus at Upsland should also be included in the plan area.
13. Future developments within the plan area need to ensure full and early
public consultation.
14. Decisions regarding the importance of specific features within the plan
area should be in line with recommendations by English Heritage.
15. Free public access to the complex in its entirety desirable.
16. Developments for tourism or other purposes within the plan area should
only be allowed if they do not impact the setting or archaeological remains
of the complex.
17. Tourism should not be allowed to have a detrimental impact on the
setting or ambience of the complex, a wider plan area would allow for
greater public access without significant impact on the complex.
18. TimeWatch are a suitable organisation to speak on my behalf regarding
detailed proposals for this conservation plan.
Regards
Name
Address