Neolithic Period Property *LINK*

[Biff Vernon]

On September 20th, North Yorkshire County Council decided to defer making a decision on Tarmac's application to extend its quarrying operations on to Ladybridge Farm in the vicinity of the Thornborough Henges. That decision was based upon an eleventh hour agreement between Tarmac, English Heritage and the NYCC Heritage Unit Manager that the mining company will fund further investigations to determine the value of the buried archaeology on the site.

This process is forecast to defer decision-making until January, 2006, and at least allows more time for the evolving Conservation Plan for the Thornborough Plain to be taken into account.


Friends of Thornborough

[Biff Vernon]

"At a meeting held between English Heritage, Tarmac and your Heritage Unit Manager, Mr Bob Sydes yesterday it was agreed in principle that further studies be undertaken to clarify whether the archaeology contained within the site was of National Significance or not. Whilst the County and Tarmac consider the current amount of site archaeological sampling to be in accordance with PPG 16 we are prepared to undertake further works if this aids the decision making process at a local level."

My understanding of the situation was that Tarmac had been unable to determine the extent of the nationally important archaeology on Ladybridge, and that Tarmac were to carry out more work on site in order to determine just that. This is not about IF there is nationally important archaeology on site, but HOW much nationally important archaeology there is.

To quote English Heritage "The archaeological deposits within Nosterfield Quarry are clearly of national importance and will be destroyed by the proposed extraction." and "The archaeological evaluation has failed to adequately characterise the deposits within the Ladybridge Farm site and the precautionary principle should apply."

George



Friends of Thornborough

[Biff Vernon]

Today is the day the North Yorkshire County Council decides wether to allow Tarmac (purveyors of fine aggregates to the concrete trades) is allowed to dig up the landscape around our largest Period Property.
The good folk of http://www.timewatch.org/ and many others have worked tirelessly and last week the NYCC officers decided to recommend refusal to their Council. The decision will be made in Masham later today.


BBC

[Evelyn]

Sadly, our elected representatives so frequently ignore the professional input of their own officers.

And then there is the appeal process... and then there is the ability of a Minister or Deputy Prime Minister to override all of this and do what they want anyhow...

[Biff Vernon]

County councillors voted 6 to 3 to reject the application at a planning meeting this morning.


Saved (subject to appeal)

[Evelyn]

Well - it's a start - but don't think all will be saved.

If John Prescott has anything to do with it...
and look at the Edge Lane appeal. A farce. A disaster. And a bloody WRONG decision.