www.stonehenge-druids.org
Our comment:
We would very much like to thank Sebastian for this update and the detailed insight into the consultation process and progress that it provides. I think that everyone interested in the reburial issue should find this to be of interest and welcome the open and forthright approach taken, and respect shown by communicating with us proactively in this way.
Frank
News Page 7
Salisbury County Court Decision
On Friday 24th April 2009 King Arthur Pendragon was served notice to appear at Salisbury County Court at 11am on Monday 27th where Wiltshire Unitary Authority on behalf of the Highways agency were seeking a ruling to evict the ‘Protest Office’, a small caravan from the Drove near to Stonehenge where it has been parked since September last year.
Arthur has been protesting at the lack of progress on the promised new Stonehenge visitor centre project which has so far cost the tax payers of Great Britain around £40 million yet nothing has changed. Stonehenge itself is still cut through with a road, surrounded by fences, separated from the sacred landscape to the north and served by a visitor centre with no museum or spiritual centre and no comfortable undercover facilities.
There was no reasonable time between being served and having to attend court in which Arthur could get legal representation, and although he requested of the court that more time be allowed and that he be allowed to present a defence, both of these were denied.
The claims by the Authorities were as follows:
The Caravan presents an eyesore at a world heritage site
The Caravan represents an obstruction to the queens highway
The Caravan might encourage an encampment
An alternative location at a camp for Gypsy's could be offered
There is no sanitation
Counter argument, had it been heard, could have been that the roads, fences and current visitor centre are the eyesores, one small caravan makes little addition to this, and anyway could be moved out of sight if requested.
The Drove is not a road in active use, it is a deeply potholes trackway approximately 16 yards wide of which 5 yards either side are grass, and the caravan obstructs nothing.
The Caravan has been in situ for months without attracting a traveller presence to it, and the whole Drove is occupied at Equinox and Winter Solstice celebrations without complaint.
King Arthur is not a Gypsy. We all have the right to protest, and the right to park on the verges at the side of the queens highways.
The Court ruled without hearing the defence argument that Arthur must vacate the site by Sunday 3rd May.
Our comment
Truth, honour and justice are the mainstays of Druid values so we were shocked and disgusted to learn that this secular court failed to allow for the unique circumstances to be presented in this case and in effect gave weight and opportunity only to the argument of the authorities.
We all pride ourselves on the fairness and impartiality of the British justice system. Yet this relies upon BOTH sides being considered before a judgement is reached.