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nigelswift
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Council officer digs council deeper into hole
Jul 14, 2007, 20:10
Council officer sends letter to Rotherwas businesses rubbishing potential for tourism before evidence is gathered.....

Fri, Jul 13 2007 02:24 | Permalink
Michael Hainge, Director of Environment at Herefordshire Council, has taken the unusual step of writing to all Rotherwas businesses expressing the opinion that the importance of the historic Dinedor Serpent has been overplayed. Mr. Hainge appears to rubbish the idea of it being used for tourism, despite the importance originally placed on the find by the County Archaeologist Dr. Keith Ray.

"Comparison of the Rotherwas Ribbon with Stonehenge was meant in very narrow terms and is, in hindsight, somewhat unfortunate. The Ribbon has not even a fraction of the intrinsic interest enjoyed by Stonehenge nor the visual impact", said Mr. Hainge.

"Claims made by people outside of the Council ... that this could be exploited for tourism is, at the very least, extremely optimistic and at worst simply wrong."

Former Liberal Democrat Mayor of Hereford, Cllr. Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes, said: "This begs several questions. Firstly, surely an impartial officer, and one without archeological expertise, should not be expressing opinions in this way and at taxpayers expense? Secondly, why do local businesses need to know his opinions at this stage? Thirdly, what right does a council officer have to rubbish the tourism potential before it is properly assessed and full council has debated it?"

"There has been no independent assessment at this stage but council officers are already jumping to conclusions. We are calling for the Council to pause, take stock, and investigate the potential for tourism properly before committing to concrete the find, a step which cannot be reversed."

"Anyone who has seen the Ohio Serpent knows that there is potential for the Dinedor Serpent, but this needs investigation. Sites all around Salisbury mark out the shapes of ancient monuments even if they are underground, and imaginative reconstructions are fantastic ways of enthusing our young people about the past", said Cllr. Lloyd-Hayes.

She concluded: "I am concerned that English Heritage are not put under undue pressure to simply back the council. We need a genuinely independent assessment."

Local residents staged a protest yesterday demanding that the council cabinet guarantee full consultation with the public and a debate between all councillors before the Serpent disappears beneath the road. When this guarantee was not forthcoming, several protesters staged a sit in. Eight were then arrested and it is now understood that three have been charged with aggravated trespass, including two elderly countryside campaigners. The case will be held later this month.

http://www.rotherwasribbon.com/
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