31st May 2005
Overnight parking at Avebury and an update on what's been going on recently. The following dates have been agreed by the National Trust and the Avebury sacred sites forum (ASSF) as times when overnight parking in the main car park and camping in tolomac and the overflow will be tolerated. These dates are strictly on the published ceremony times. Any infringements on these dates is a breech of byelaws and will be treated as such. Offenders will be issued with a notice of prosecution by N/T solicitors through the magistrate’s court (N/T byelaws 11 (a) (ii) 1965). Most of you are probably aware of the meetings that have been occurring over the last few years between the estate manager (past and present), the N/T and the local pagans to try and address any problems that arise as a result of ceremonies being conducted at Avebury. Initially started as a result of the car parking/camping problems, these meetings have lead to many bridges being built between the N/T and the pagans. This new ground has allowed us to work with the N/T to put something back into Avebury. Conservation days involving litter picking and even collecting mole hill soil to replace the erosion went so well and gained so much interest that it was felt some organisation of these days would ensure that maxim benefit could be achieved for the whole site. After a few months of implementation and seeking backing from the N/T and the ASSF the Avebury Guardians scheme was launched. A good turnout for the training day ensured a lot got achieved and with visible signs of progress. Everyone has been split into groups each responsible for either the Henge or Avenue, West Kennet long barrow and the Sanctuary and Ridgeway barrows. The training day was a sharing of knowledge, with talks on the archaeology from the N/T and talks about paganism from us, it is hoped that this will increase understanding for all involved. Avebury, the surrounding area and the local politics can only benefit from this type of help. So much time and effort has been put in by so many the future of the guardians looks promising and could go far. It is the first such scheme to ever be set up and the N/T are hoping it will become a flagship for other N/T properties with a pagan heritage. Avebury Sacred Sites Forum (ASSF) was formed and held their first meeting on the 21st October 2004. It is a focus group of individuals (some pagan) working in partnership with the N/T to preserve the sacred nature of the Avebury world heritage sites monuments and landscape. The forum members are committed to working together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding, in open and honest communication. The forum recognises all aspects of Avebury, the sacred, the cultural and the historical. At the last ASSF meeting (on the 5th April) the N/T informed the forum that they had received a letter from the county council stating that they would be investigating the N/T at Avebury for breech of byelaws. In response to this the N/T have had to find a solution and this is to be strict on the days that overnight parking will be tolerated. As a consequence any infringements will be severely dealt with, breech’s in byelaws lead to prosecution for you to! A contract is currently being drawn up with a vehicle removal/towing company, which will be employed by the N/T to remove any vehicles committing byelaw offences on any land that the N/T are responsible for. The removed vehicles will be transported to either Swindon or Salisbury to a secure site where you must pay to get your vehicle released! A final consequence for persistent offenders is a court order being placed upon you preventing you bringing any vehicle, owned by you or in your control onto any N/T property. Permitted Dates – agreed on by the N/T and ASSF. BELTANE – Fri 29th April Sat 30th April Sun 1st May Mon 2nd May Please can all tents in the overflow be collapsed by 12pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday and be cleared by midday on Monday. Beltane is expected to be a very busy bank holiday weekend. The sarsen trail marathon is also on this weekend and requires the additional overflow parking. SUMMER SOLSTICE – Fri 17th June. Sat 18th June Sun 19th June Mon 20th June Tues 21st June Weds 22nd June – 4pm car park to cleared of all vehicles and tents to be down. Private security will man the gate to the main car park 24hrs a day. Because of health and safety issues the movement of vehicles will be restricted to daylight hours only (except in emergencies). LAMMAS – Sat 30th July Sun 31st July Mon 1st August – ceremony at Silbury at 12pm.
03/06/2004
Had a meeting with NT. Everyone is being evicted from the all NT property at 12pm on MONDAY 21st June. We are sure you would like to join us in thanking the NT's representative in his sterling efforts in ensuring that Solstice, a Pagan religious ceremony will be duly disrupted, and hope he enjoys his well earned retirement, safe in the knowledge that people have such strong opinions regarding his welfare.
Have a good Solstice everyone xx
09/04/04 LATEST NEWS - PLEASE READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its finally happening!!!!!! We have received a letter from NT solicitors indicating if we do not apologise and promise to be good little people, THEY WILL PROSECUTE!!!!!!
So there you go - it seems we are about to become an enemy of the State!! We will try and keep you all updated as to what happens (assuming we can get internet access in Wormwood Scrubs!!) We will also post the letter sent to us so you can all see how nice the NT are.
Watch this space, lots of love xx
03/03/04
sorry there has not been an update recently. Imbolc was spent at stanton moor. we also will be away at spring equinox. (am on my year away!!!) LATEST NEWS..
THE NATIONAL TRUST INTEND TO PLACE HIGHT RESTRICTION BARRIERS IN BOTH THE MAIN CAR PARK AND ALSO THE SMALL VILLAGE CAR PARK. approached mr mimack and he confirmed that the n.t intend to apply for planning permision in the near future. full moon this sat.6th march, 04/01/04
Hope you all had a good solstice, happy 2004!
Yule came and went without anything 'new' happening. Notices were issued to vehicles parked overnight. These notices informed the owner that their registration had been noted, and to continue to park may result in a future prosecution. Most people however either parked down the High street, or in the little car-park in the village. We hope to have a meeting with the NT in the next couple of weeks. We will keep you all informed as to any other developments. Thank you for your continuing support. xx
17/12/03
Had some interesting meetings with the NT and the local Police. The Police pointed out that they dont consider people whom use the carpark a nuisance, and that if people did park, it would break civil bye-laws not criminal law, and so the Police would not get involved. Civil cases are very difficult to prove and are very costly. Whilst Freeavebury would not in any way condone breaking laws of any sort, be assured that you cannot be prosecuted as a criminal, especialy as all our vehicles are taxed, insured etc. (which means we can park perfectly legally on the village High street, but not on double-yellow lines or denying access for emergancy vehicles of course!) See you at Avebury, Happy Solstice.
LATEST NEWS...Sorry that this has been quiet for a while but not a great deal has happened. Only a couple of people from the village turned up to the meeting but we did also recieve a few supportive letters. The National Trust, at our last meeting seemed not to concerned about the disturbances etc to the resisdents by parking in the village... still showing that they believe just moving the problem is the solution!!! We aim to meet with them later on this week to see what they have planned for yule...will keep you all informed thanks again for all the support.
*** Thankyou for all the messages and apologies for not updating sooner. We will do so soon with the latest news. We are having a meeting with village residents on Sunday - we will let you know what happens - many thanks. freeavebury xxx
Hello!!We are writing to you to ask if you would be willing to help us in our oncoming conflict with the National Trust and Avebury Parish council. Firstly though please allow us to introduce ourselves and explain our situation.
Our names are Mik and Emma and we are representing a group of pagans who visit the Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire on a regular basis. Avebury is the temple of the ancient Briton's (built over 5000yrs ago). As the biggest stone circle in Britain it attracts thousands of different people from all sorts of backgrounds from all over the world.
Many of these visits are for the purposes of attending the religious ceremonies that take place at various differing times throughout the day and night. The main eight pagan festivals and all of the full moons are observed at the stones, so consequently this does require us parking our vehicles (for most of us our homes) in the tourists car park. Pagans have been parking in this car park overnight for many years so that they can safely enjoy and observe their religious celebrations. This has never been allowed by the National trust or the parish council but due to the goodwill of all parties no action has ever been taken. This has recently changed, the trust has began to issues prosecution notices to any vehicle parked over night. We really feel that this is an infringement on our right to religious ceremonies and the right to park our homes safely (could this be be a case of indirect discrimination?)
We seem to have become mediators between the car park and the trust, who are not being that unreasonable, it is the parish council above them that are causing the problems. There is a good rapport between ourselves and the trust, (we organise litter picking etc at summer solstice), they know we have the stones best interests at heart! At a recent meeting we managed to get the trust to see that by not prosecuting over the ceremonies, people would respect these dates and not park between the agreed dates. This is what has happened over the last few weeks, no regular users have parked overnight out of respect and by means of comprise.
We discovered at our meeting on 3/11/03 that this agreement had been denied, consequently we have offered ourselves to be prosecuted. It is hoped that will lead to precedents being set so that we can all go on to celebrate at this special site.
We would be very grateful for any advice, contacts, publicity and help that you could offer us.
Looking forward to hearing from youMik & Emma x
