Postbag
Council has a responsibility to protect Old Sarum
THERE is still time for Salisbury District Council, as representatives of the people of Salisbury, to use their influence at a rare moment when the council still have some say in how English Heritage
maintains Old Sarum.
English Heritage have still not confirmed their intentions
regarding the small bit of unfelled scrub and woodland at the base of the monument.
Some years ago, English Heritage tried to close the footpaths and locals fought to keep them open.
I am hugely grateful to them. For more than ten years, there has been no consultation or notification while three quarters of Old Sarum has been cleared and turned into chalk downland.
There have been reports and statements from the council's
planning department on the trees, Wiltshire Wildlife on the chalk downland and English Heritage on how best to maintain an ancient monument.
However, it is a living ancient monument. It is the people who use it who keep it alive and bring out its vitality.
It was built by people and is being preserved by them for future generations.
It has always been a part of Salisbury life within the city
boundaries. To us, the people of Salisbury, it is not just a tourist site. Around two hundred people a day walk, jog, play and contemplate life there.
We talk to the tourists, watch and care for the site, pick up litter and pass on any problems we find such as sheep in trouble, fences broken, trees down, campers and fires. We are an integral part of the whole.
So is the wooded area that is being cut down. It is central to the outer circle. It is the portal between the view of Salisbury and the
cathedral and the north view to Salisbury Plain. The atmosphere heightens your senses, raises the spirits and is loved by all who use it. If there is a problem with erosion, surely the car park, buses, cars,
rabbits, sheep and people are part of it. It has managed to maintain itself for 4,000 years.
I am grateful that Beth Cavanagh, of English Heritage, is "happy to hear from people who care" for Old Sarum (Postbag, January 31).
Ironically, this attempt at public relations at this late stage reveals English Heritage's lack of understanding of how people feel. Besides, what is the point of
consulting with English Heritage when they are set on continuing their destructive course?
One of the councillors at one of the many of meetings I have attended in the last few weeks suggested that this was a "dead issue".
On the contrary, there is a groundswell of people who are expressing their outrage at the lethargic approach taken by the council and English Heritage. I am compelled to pursue this matter as far as I can, as a carer rather than a campaigner for this precious resource.
I ask the council to press English Heritage to leave what is left for the people of Salisbury and future
generations to enjoy.
MO VINES, Winterbourne Gunner
3:38pm Thursday 28th February 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jim Talbot, Aberdeenshire on 7:58am Fri 29 Feb 08
As a former Salisbury resident I was horrified to learn of this environmental disaster! Has English Heritage applied for permission to disturb the numerous bats roosting in this area?
As a former Salisbury resident I was horrified to learn of this environmental disaster! Has English Heritage applied for permission to disturb the numerous bats roosting in this area?
Posted by: M Hartey, Stratford Rd on 7:20pm Sat 1 Mar 08
I don't understand why the Journal is continuing to give this story any print space. I am a local resident who spends many weekends exploring the site with my daughter and we love the tranquil setting and the views from the monument. One of our favourite views is from the cathedral remains down to the woodfords and over the river. (a view that could not be experienced until english heritage removed scrub 18 months ago). I am all for scrub clearance if it ensure the future survival of the chalk banks and this amazing site. As for dog walkers, the majority that i see have too many dogs to control and let their dogs roam too far away to notice any fouling and even when they do they refuse to pick it up!
Everbody has choices, if you don't agree with the upkeep of a site that you can use for free, go and find somewhere else that matches your 'busy body' needs!
I don't understand why the Journal is continuing to give this story any print space. I am a local resident who spends many weekends exploring the site with my daughter and we love the tranquil setting and the views from the monument. One of our favourite views is from the cathedral remains down to the woodfords and over the river. (a view that could not be experienced until english heritage removed scrub 18 months ago). I am all for scrub clearance if it ensure the future survival of the chalk banks and this amazing site. As for dog walkers, the majority that i see have too many dogs to control and let their dogs roam too far away to notice any fouling and even when they do they refuse to pick it up!
Everbody has choices, if you don't agree with the upkeep of a site that you can use for free, go and find somewhere else that matches your 'busy body' needs!
Posted by: John Ellis, Farley, Salisbury on 4:22pm Thu 20 Mar 08
Some 16 years ago English Heritage (EH) tried by to impose their interests on Old Sarum by devious means. They issued a document on a very limited circulation excluding the people living in the immediate area. It went to all the usual organisations of course but a copy fell into the hands of the people trying to protect Hudson’s Field.
The EH intentions were two fold. First to reduce the cost of maintenance by grazing the banks with sheep, removing scrub to facilitate that process. They would then limit access and charge for entry to the whole site by fencing it in and putting a pay booth at the gated entrance on the access road.
To more remote consultee were unmoved and little attempt was made to talk to locals. They seemed not realise that Old Sarum has, apart from the central “Mott”, as long as anyone can remember been totally open and free at all hours. The extent of “scrub” clearance was vague and nearly encroached into the swathe of bushes running towards Stratford below the Beech hangar on the ramparts. It was an important wildlife area with a wide variety of birds recorded. The fences running vertically down the outer ramparts were fitted with styles which prevented most dog owners from walking round them.
Trees were to be thinned but limited by the Council officer concerned. Small aluminium discs high on the trunks marked them but when cut so did the evidence. However it was proved that more trees were removed than authorised. A farmer doing the same thing would have been fined but EH could not! Amongst these were two ancient Yews standing like guards at the Postern Gate. They went leaving stumps were measured at over three feet across – some trees.
The access problem was solved for ever by establishing Rights of Way round and across the site. It established a precedent in English law but it needed proof that none of the paths had been in any way restricted for, I think, 20, perhaps more years. The maps of the castle now show these paths clearly. We also managed to have the styles altered to kissing gates! This is a heavily abridged story but remember, restoring the castle to its original state is impossible because it had a city atop surrounded with walls until the church and the military fell out. Its is not scrub that allows the banks to deteriorate; trim it but don’t remove its roots.
Some 16 years ago English Heritage (EH) tried by to impose their interests on Old Sarum by devious means. They issued a document on a very limited circulation excluding the people living in the immediate area. It went to all the usual organisations of course but a copy fell into the hands of the people trying to protect Hudson’s Field.
The EH intentions were two fold. First to reduce the cost of maintenance by grazing the banks with sheep, removing scrub to facilitate that process. They would then limit access and charge for entry to the whole site by fencing it in and putting a pay booth at the gated entrance on the access road.
To more remote consultee were unmoved and little attempt was made to talk to locals. They seemed not realise that Old Sarum has, apart from the central “Mott”, as long as anyone can remember been totally open and free at all hours. The extent of “scrub” clearance was vague and nearly encroached into the swathe of bushes running towards Stratford below the Beech hangar on the ramparts. It was an important wildlife area with a wide variety of birds recorded. The fences running vertically down the outer ramparts were fitted with styles which prevented most dog owners from walking round them.
Trees were to be thinned but limited by the Council officer concerned. Small aluminium discs high on the trunks marked them but when cut so did the evidence. However it was proved that more trees were removed than authorised. A farmer doing the same thing would have been fined but EH could not! Amongst these were two ancient Yews standing like guards at the Postern Gate. They went leaving stumps were measured at over three feet across – some trees.
The access problem was solved for ever by establishing Rights of Way round and across the site. It established a precedent in English law but it needed proof that none of the paths had been in any way restricted for, I think, 20, perhaps more years. The maps of the castle now show these paths clearly. We also managed to have the styles altered to kissing gates! This is a heavily abridged story but remember, restoring the castle to its original state is impossible because it had a city atop surrounded with walls until the church and the military fell out. Its is not scrub that allows the banks to deteriorate; trim it but don’t remove its roots.
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