One Law For English Heritage And Another For The Rest Of Us?

Here at WiSBAng we don't really like to keep having a go at English Heritage over the premature closure of the A344 and the consequent and oh-so-often predicted traffic chaos that has ensued.  Not only has this crass act contributed to increased congestion on the A303, it has proved a nightmare for local villages and other minor routes for miles around.  However, despite our intentions, English Heritage have an uncanny habit of opening their mouths and sticking both feet in!

This weekend sees the Summer Solstice and the weather forecast, for once, seems to be fairly reasonable.  Last week, Wiltshire Police and English Heritage were predicting that the crowds might reach 30,000.  Today, the Highways Agency were quoted by BBC South as saying that they expected and additional 35,000 vehicles on the roads around Stonehenge.  Either someone is wrong or the Highways Agency have been misquoted, but I think it's safe to say it might be busy.

Today, I cycled up to Stonehenge to see what was going on in preparation for the Solstice.  My main reason was to see if I was going to be challenged whilst riding along what used to be the A344, which, despite English Heritage's protestations, remains open throughout the Solstice period for anyone who wants to walk, ride a bike, ride a horse, drive a horse and cart, or drive an invalid carriage along it.  I wasn't challenged today, but I suspect that might be a little different of Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.

There was lots of activity east of the visitor's centre where the Solstice carparks are being prepared - with an estimated capacity of 6,500 vehicles.  Now, I was always a bit of a duffer at maths, but even I can work out that isn't going to make much of a dent in the extra 35,000 vehicles on the local roads.

I rode down to Byway 12 to see what was going on there and was, I have to say, impressed that the old visitor's centre has largely disappeared and that a proper turning circle has been built for the land train and coaches.  I was even more impressed that the land trains were able to turn round in it, given they are not renowned for having a good turning circle.

Now, today was the day that Wiltshire Council's Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the Summer Solstice came into force.

It applies to ALL vehicles, except those of the emergency services.  The restrictions imposed by the TRO includes vehicles owned and operated by English Heritage and their contractors - it is a blanket ban on the use of Byway 12.  English Heritage, far from setting a good example and keeping off Byway 12, clearly feel that the law of the land doesn't apply to them.

Despite having a nice new turning area, some of the EH drivers can't be arsed to use it.

All our photos are date/time stamped should Wiltshire Council/Wiltshire Police choose to prosecute. 

Some English Heritage drivers are playing the game, and using the new turning, as this photo shows:

The coach beyond the land-train is obviously doing the right thing.  However, another coach pulls up on the right and...

...the driver leaps out for a crafty fag (a quick note to our US readers - a fag, in this context, is slang for a cigarette!).  Unfortunately, he has his back turned to the prominently displayed TRO notice posted at the entrance to Byway 12.   Of course, he could use the turning circle but no...

...he also drives onto Byway 12 in breach of the TRO to turn round.

If anyone is unfortunate enough to contravene the Wiltshire Council TRO, on foot, with an animal, or in any form of vehicle, during the Solstice period, then we will happily provide time-stamped copies to help them mount a defence - it doesn't seem right that anyone should be fined for doing something that English Heritage are doing multiple times an hour. 

Alternatively, to a Wiltshire rate-payer, prosecuting English Heritage for each and every infraction of the TRO - that's twice in 6 minutes, 20 times an hour or 160 times during an 8 hour day at £1,000 a pop.  That's a cool £160,000 a day, or £800,000 for the planned Solstice closure - could seem a very attractive proposition!