For hundreds of years, anyone could walk up to the giant monoliths at Stonehenge, on England's Salisbury Plain, and put their hands directly on the stones. However, since the 1970's, British officials have kept things roped off, and only opened the site for special events, such as solstice celebrations. Now, an English Druid named Arthur Uther Pendragon has set up camp at Stonehenge as a protest, asking British officials to remove the fences that block the site. He's also requesting that they build a tunnel over a nearby road, the A303, in order to cut down on the traffic flow near the monument.
Parliament decided last year that the cost of building a tunnel -- estimated at around 470 million pounds -- was just too high.
Pendragon has been camping near Stonehenge since the summer solstice, back on June 20. In addition to the fences and the tunnel issue, he says the government needs to improve the visitor's center, which was erected fourteen years ago as a temporary structure. "English Heritage won't do anything to improve it until the Government do something to improve the roads so nothing is going to change, but what I'm hoping to do is raise awareness that nothing is going to happen."
Parliament decided last year that the cost of building a tunnel -- estimated at around 470 million pounds -- was just too high.
Pendragon has been camping near Stonehenge since the summer solstice, back on June 20. In addition to the fences and the tunnel issue, he says the government needs to improve the visitor's center, which was erected fourteen years ago as a temporary structure. "English Heritage won't do anything to improve it until the Government do something to improve the roads so nothing is going to change, but what I'm hoping to do is raise awareness that nothing is going to happen."
Okay, I can see why he wants access opened up, but I also see the other side. There was a story in the news recently about someone sneaking in and trying to chip off a piece from one of the stones. Granted, it would take a lot of people to damage a stone, but I think in this day and age, keeping them roped off might be the best way to protect them.
I would love to see Stonehenge the way it should be, open and free for all to access at any time. But the unfortunate truth is, there are people who do not have the respect that is suited for such a place. For example, those who would try and chip pieces off to take home as “trophies” ,not to mention those who would deface and vandalize the sacred stucture. Its just a shame that, because of a few disrespectful individuals Stonehenge, like many other Sacred Sites in the world, must have restricted access so they can be preserved.
While I agree with what he’s asking for- I’m also totally in agreeance with PheonixWindWalker. People have little or no respect for sacred things- especially if that sacred thing isn’t part of “them”, so to speak.
I wish him luck, however, with the visitor’s center. My other mother was there and while the stone’s were so magnificent and powerfull, the “center” was very shabby and was glad that she didn’t have to be there more than was nesicary.
I visited Stonehenge a few years ago and the whole arrangement is horrible. There was discuss about moving the raod to make unauthorized access harder, which would help. Being able to walk amoung the stones would not be practical as all those hands touching the stones (When I was there at least 500 people were there on a weekday) would eat away at the stones. So I am not sure that there is a good solution to the ropes. There are no stones that could be placed so that people could touch that one.