Present
Kasia Morris (Scribe)
Jamie Thomson
Nick Bush (English Heritage Security Advisor)
Tim Richards (Amesbury Police Station)
Jeremy Wickham (Wiltshire Constabulary)
Brian Viziondanz
George Firsoff (Secretary)
Andy Pulham (voluntary Peace Steward)
Raj Suri
Anne Waterhouse
Tim Abbott (Chair)
David Griffiths (observer GOSW)
Carol Waller (New Futures Association)
Cal Green (New Futures)
Dave Hyde (New Futures)
Nora Morris
Keith Cockburn (Police Commander Andover)

(arrived during meeting:)
Rowena Stone
Don Sheppard
Paul S J Moralis
Andy Smith (editor Festival Eye)
Zee (from London)
Paul Aitken
A Allen
D Henderson

3) Working Together - Problems and Possibilities.
A chance for people to say what they wish and be answered.

Nora brought up the issue of the Press at the Stonehenge Access.
Tim Abbott said the Press will not have preferential treatment, they will be the same as other participants, in order that they have the same experience.
It was generally agreed that where religious rituals are concerned filming must be non intrusive. English Heritage took note of this concern.

George raised a concern. He had phoned Commander Andy Tatam to say the Working Party One was speaking to a farmer about a park-up on his land and they wanted to initiate a dialogue with the police about any concerns.

When Brian and Raj met the farmer he told them the police had already visited to say his land was unsuitable. Brian felt a sense of betrayal. The police behaviour was inappropriate he thought and George agreed. The group should have been allowed to meet the farmer first.

Tim Abbott said the site, at Corsely, near Warminster, had been proposed for the Wiltshire show, a mainstream event, and there had been bitter opposition locally, in the last three months. The Show had been renamed the Wessex Show and had had to move out of Wiltshire into Somerset.

George said Andy Tatam as Commander of A division had spoken to his counterpart in C division as they had agreed. But George said in view of what had then happened, he would not be giving confidential information to the police again, until the group had time to negotiate and was ready to talk to them about any proposals.

Tim Abbott said we don't know who the policeman was who spoke to the farmer, allegedly in the village pub. Andy Tatam was duty bound to speak to his colleague. The land had already been turned down for the Wiltshire Show.

Gerry Wickham said the Community beat officer had spoken to the farmer's wife, Mrs Hares, and later Gerry had been contacted to speak to Mr Hares, which he did, and answered Mr Hares questions. Wiltshire Council was the licensing authority and would have to be involved. Mr Hares had claimed the people he met said they were from English Heritage which they had no right to do.

Tim repeated that there was a lot of opposition to the Wiltshire Show and this meant the park up would also not happen.

Carol Waller said she had written to Mendip Council about the problem arising from the banning of the Travellers' Field which normally happened outside the confines of the Glastonbury Festival. The letter was passed round. She suggested that we concentrate on the positive achievements of the Peace Process and try and find another site.

George said if there were additional problems this summer it was Avon & Somerset police and Mendip District Council who were responsible, for imposing onerous restrictions at the Glastonbury Festival without taking responsibility for the wider effects.

David Griffiths commented that there was not time to engage the MOD in discussions about land and it was private owners who might be available.

Michael Eavis was in a difficult position. If there were breaches of the license it would mean the end of the Glastonbury Festival. He had an interest in what the group was attempting, he would be assisting financially, said George.

George read out parts of a letter from ACC Smith of Hampshire Constabulary, mentioning MOD land at Barton Stacey, and saying that they would prevent any unlicensed, unregulated and unsupervised events in Hampshire. Wiltshire have the same policy, the meeting was told.

The MOD would be very opposed, it was suggested, for fear of setting a precedent for civilian use of their land.
Keith Cockburn said there was the issue of military equipment possibly including unexploded ordnance.

Raj said he did not claim to be from English Heritage.

George suggested Mr Hares was guilty of inaccuracies, as he had apparently told the group he had already hosted the Wiltshire Show.
Andy Tatam had promised co-operation in talking, after the Solstice was over, with the group that has been meeting in London, about a fully licensed event somewhere in the future. It was pointed out that neither Wiltshire police nor anyone else around this table represented a licensing authority.

Gerry spoke about a meeting with English Heritage, police and local landowners, which discussed the possibility of licensed events. It was wondered why this had not been attempted back in the 1970s. However he reiterated that if there were incursions on private land the police would use their powers under Section 61. Local authorities can use the similar Section 77.

Tim Abbott raised the issue of liaison between the authorities about the problem of people going to Pilton without tickets. What are the contingency plans? There did not seem to be a response to this general query, but Gerry said there would be officers dealing with this. George asked what would happen if the landholder had agreed to a park up on his land. Gerry replied that amplified music was a problem as it then became an illegal event under Section 61. Cal said there are rumours that as there is a dance event in the North people with sound systems might not risk bringing them to Wiltshire or Somerset.

Carol gave an example of co-operation between an unlicensed gathering near Brighton and the police, with police monitoring the level of sound, and giving guidance, and rubbish collection was also organised through the local authority. So it is possible to work in this way to minimise impact on the locality. Agreed it was better to be proactive.

Gerry assured us there is no going back to the confrontational policing of the 1980s. Tim Abbott asked what the contingency was if Worthy Farm had be evacuated in an emergency? Surely there was some provision? If so it was not disclosed at the meeting.

6) Access to Stonehenge Summer Solstice 2002 - Final Details - Conditions of Entry

Gerry explained why it was necessary for people to park in a very orderly manner to make maximum use of the site, because there is space for only 10,000 vehicles and no overflow provision. If people turn up and the car park is full they will be turned away. Later in the day when many people have left it will be possible for groups to rearrange themselves.

The conditions of entry were handed out. There was a discussion about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and the quantities of alcohol that might be considered suitable for personal use. Tim Abbott pointed out that banning a legal substance and monitoring it was an operational nightmare.

He also said that the walk along the road could be used to create an ambience with impromptu performers, like jugglers and story tellers.

Kasia stressed the importance of satellite events to ease congestion in the stones.
Andy Pulham pointed out that vehicles must be separated by a certain distance in case of fire breaking out.

George described the Stonehenge Peace Process initiative for voluntary Peace Stewards and invited people to sign the waiver form which also registered them. In the first year 50 had been registered and we had proved effective, last year there were only 23 and we were not very effective, this year we are aiming to register 100. There will training at a secret location beforehand.

The possibility was raised of more catering vans than the two within the stones field.
Brian suggested a warm dry tent where children can go, apparently there is a welfare tent.
There is an ongoing discussion about providing two braziers as centres for gathering outside the stones.

Fire juggling was discussed and the Round Table is moving towards a designated compound with fire Marshalls. English Heritage could be legally liable for an accident. Kasia said having a designated area would provide an attraction to skilled performers and avoid the dangers caused by congestion. But there would have to qualified people in charge of the area.
Tim Abbott said it was time to involve the local authorities in these meetings. There were difficulties getting both councillors and officers to come.

7) Acts of Reconciliation for the 1980s

Brian said there should be an official apology for the Beanfield and other evictions. George had originally proposed June 1st as a "Day of Reconciliation". He read an excerpt from the archive, describing how police inflicted pain on young people who wrere in handcuffs, and journalists recording the scene were also arrested
Andy Pulham recalled that the previous area Commander, Andy Hollingshead had made an apology at a TRC meeting and spoke of his own need for healing.

Carol gave an intensely moving account of her conversation with a policeman who had been at the Beanfield and experienced flashbacks to the combat. All we need is a recognition of our common humanity.

Tim Abbott said the Beanfield was a part of a wider situation in Britain at the time, with rising unemployment, police brutality at the Miners Strike.
Paul Moralis suggested building a cairn as a memorial.
Carol and Cal both wanted the children brought up with the assurance that these things will never happen again. Carol said she was 17 and had been brought up to ask a policeman for help, and this trust was shattered by her experience in the Beanfield.
Tim Abbott said we have to seek reconciliation by working for a legal event, and show by example that old bitterness is healed.

£21.73 was collected for the Hall and the Secretary's expenses.

There is a follow-up meeting the 24th TRC on:
Wednesday 5th June 2002 (same time 2PM, same place)

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