New management at English Heritage making an effort?

STAG met with two representatives of English Heritage last Thursday evening.   We all need to make some effort to pull together for the same end i.e. to improve the A303 past Stonehenge.

There were however, a number points of relevance we needed to talk about before taking things further with them......these can be read on my previous blog posting headed "English Heritage adopting their own rules" vis the closure to traffic on the A344 and preventing the right of way of walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs, and riders - 24/7 according to the TRO - Traffic Regulation Order.   It did appear that these two representatives, whilst upper management, were not party to the feelings of the local community and the disgust toward English Heritage built up over many years.....so to commend them, they listened, took copious notes and appeared open minded considering the negative detail that was being thrown at them.   Among many points of discussion, we suggested some short term measures that could be put in place around the area which were previously discussed at a meeting with National Trust, toward the end of last year. 

The response to most of this, was that they meet up with N T very regularly, and there had been no mention of these amendments and they were not aware of such measures.....So! to give our visitors from E H their due, considering the meeting last Thursday finished rather late, we were able to note that by Friday afternoon, some effort had been made to make a sort of  cycle/walking path and we need to allow them more time to install the Kent Carriage Gap ....It's certainly a bit rough, not helped by the weather, but at least there has been some improvement which opens the right of way 24/7.......so good on you.... Upper management of E H for making changes so quickly, and here we refer to One - Kate Davies, General Manager! 
However, I'm not sure what happens when one reaches the "yellow jackets" at the far gate.   Is it still locked out of hours and one would need to pick up ones bike and carry it over the gate?....that is, provided one has permission.....still a breach of the TRO.

Since this was a first meeting with EH and dialog went well, we would hope to have more such meetings with a view to creating a better relationship with the wider community than in the past.