English Heritage adopting their own rules again!

When the A344 was closed in June last year, English Heritage, took it upon themselves to erect some nice 5 bar gates.....to keep us all out! 
To assist with this....they also put some "yellow jackets" in place.   I've had more than enough e-mails telling me that they've "done their own thing" by putting up the gates and worse still.....locking them at night.  These gates, whilst agreed by Wiltshire Council on a TRO - Traffic Regulation Order, as part of the planning permission for the new visitor's centre, were merely to stop unauthorised vehicles and should not be closed to the public!  We have the right to walk/cycle/ride or use a horse and carriage i.e. mechanically propelled vehicles, beyond the gates and this is not questionable.   This is an extract from an e-mail to one of our supporters from: Development Control Engineer, Wiltshire Council: "I can assure you that the works have been carried out generally in accordance with the planning permission, and the accompanying planning obligations, which clearly set out intentions to control vehicle traffic movement along the A344; the arrangements for the gates were agreed and facilitated by Wiltshire Council, acting in its capacity as both local planning and highway authority"  The TRO stated that there are no restrictions to the following: pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, or invalid carriages.  I give you a copy of said TRO...please feel free to open this, print off and carry it with you if you are using your right to walk, cycle or ride the section of the A344 between Airman's Corner and By-way 12....because....still, the "Yellow Jackets" are not allowing "the public right of way" without asking questions as to why you would want to pass through the gates!    English Heritage just don't want anyone seeing those Stones without paying....do they?! 

The restrictions by English Heritage continue as can be seen from this photo and here is another paragraph from the previously quoted e-mail: "There are specific facilities provided to allow use by foot, cycle or equestrian users, including the provision of a 'Kent Carriage Gap'" this is what one looks like >>> 

 Again, please open and have a better look.  I don't know about you, but on the photos following - and the camera never lies - I certainly cannot see a Kent Carriage Gap....can you?!   I wouldn't want to be negotiating my way around those metal railings or that mud, wearing my walking boots far less in a wheel chair or with horse and carriage!!!  



And just so that www.english-heritage.org.uk understand about "GAPS" for walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs and riders alike.....here is the diagram to assist when they finally decide to go along with the TRO!  
















English Heritage were, under the terms of the TRO, supposed to have all this work completed along with the cycle path before the opening on 17th December, and here's a photo of....the cycle path at present:
I rest my case!