Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

There was someone up there yesterday lunchtime as I drove past too!
BTW the stiles have gone.

Yes, but I don't think a compromise is needed but a consensus. I'd suggest one has emerged, and it's this:

1. Some people think it's OK to climb because their individual action is harmless (and they're right)

2. Most think it's not OK to climb because the cumulative damage is harmful (and they're right)

3. The photos have emphasized how right group 2 is, so there's a growing view that whatever can be done to get most of group 1 to join group 2 should be.

4. It's mostly about better notices and it's really up to EH to address that issue. As someone who, in his time, put up dozens of notices there because they hadn't put up enough, and had them all removed by them without them adding to their own, I don't think there should be a request for them to do it but a public clamour.

with no reason for that to change.

Personally, I would be against renovating and throwing open the main path as that would result in 500x more people going up and a commensurate increase in erosion.

One of the problems is people travel hundreds, and in some cases thousands of miles to Avebury, with their mind set on climbing Silbury, and it's these people who wont heed the signs as it'll probably be their only visit to the WHS and they see it as being acceptable as it'll be a one off life event, the thought of potential damage and keep off signs take a back seat in the excitement, and disappointment isn't on the agenda. Of course there will be other more local that believe they have a right to climb as i did, in fact the only reason i don't go up anymore is out of respect to VBB, if it weren't for his personal words and his obvious love of the hill i'd climb it again without thought, and the problem is i doubt you can get across the message in such a personal heart felt way with signs.

So the only solution imo, stick VBB there 24/7 to intercept the climbers. :)

That's certainly one of the problems, you just self appoint yourself as "keeper of the stones" Ha ha and they'll let you up, give them money -they'll let you up, look after the wildlife - they'll let you up, I do agree with lots that's been said [and how nice we're been] but do you [apart from the people who live around there] realise just how many people go up there, in the summer there are people pretty much continuously up there [there was even someone when Steve M took the photo the other day - it's all the time], the signs are as clear for all languages as they can be [it's a picture of someone climbing with a red line though or a red circle with a white line though] and then people see the steps over and it confuses them and pretty much encourages them up, getting rid of the stiles for a start would stop most, i can't believe nobody mentions the stiles [there's even more than one].

He'd need one of my patented 3 speed walking sticks to catch them :-)

Agreed.
Just bringing a bit of reality here Roy as signs wont work imo. I've spoke to dozens of people on their way to climb and nothing will stop them, in fact i tried to stop a friend going up last year but he wouldn't have it, indeed he went back twice more despite my words, people are drawn to it like a magnet and sensibility goes out the window.

Just to touch on sponsored signs, i believe the "hippies" for want of a better word will tear those down in no time due to the perceived sullying of their temple/sacred hill.