SUMMER SOLSTICE 2002
STONEHENGE PEACE NEWSLETTER (Part 2) Updated 6th June 2002
Security Issues
The proposal to ban alcohol in the Stonehenge triangle in 2002 has probably been shelved for at least a year following a negative reaction from community representatives who believe it to be deeply flawed.
Last year we observed a very trouble free Solstice but it appears that there was a group of very tanked up individuals, two of whom started punching each other, and English Heritage security waded in to separate them. Police especially the most senior officer were followed around and disrespected and harrassed. In a normal situation arrests would have been made but there was a fear of a major riot.
Mindful of the need for the access to be sustainable, THAT MEANS we want it to go on year after year! we argued that we as communicators would have to prepare the community for the necessity that police would remove aggressive and violent individuals and the police have promised, in holding off their advice for a ban, to be robust in removing aggressive and violent individuals, using the normal statutes of law (such as breach of the peace, insulting behaviour, assault & so on).
Also I feel this means that we may (1) -ask- that people restrain themselves from alcohol, or at least excessive alcohol so as to (2) Take the fullest responsibility for intervening to cool down any situations that they observe getting wired up (3) Also participate as voluntary stewards or informally to keep everybody informed about what is happening. (4) The object being that police action will not be needed. Nobody will be happier than the police if this can be achieved.
MAKE A POLICEMAN HAPPY!
We do not know who the individuals who were the focus of this report were, and it varies from, the children who were at the beanfield, to local lushheads, to members of the BNP. They have been described as "skinheads" but this means apparently, shaven heads, tatooed arms and sleeveless black leather jackets. A good peace duty might be befriending and helping them relax into the good vibes of the Solstice access.
Let's be fair and recognise that, not everybody is aware, of just how much the authorities and those who campaigned around Stonehenge, have moved on into the Peace Process. Some still feel battered and alienated by the attacks that were mounted against their community in the 1980s!
A fuller report on the actual negotiations is posted at: Working Party Two
To volunteer as a Peace Steward please go to: Peace Stewards
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More Daylight Access
The terms and conditions now released for Open Public Access in 2002 are that the Stones are open from 8PM Thursday 20th June to 7AM on the 21st.
These are not the hours that most of us would propose or prefer, so earlier this year some tough questions were asked of English Heritage to explain this lack of progress towards more daytime celebration.
Although it was denied that it was principally about money, it is a fact English Heritage's income is down a reported UKP11M because of foot'n'mouth and then Sept 11, like all the tourist industry, the US visitors are not jetting over, and neither are the Europeans, while I suppose the Japanese economy is deflated so they're not coming either.
There is a bottom line, that they don't want people extending the visit into a second night. This is largely because this promotes in some quarters a traditional anxiety about a "festival".
A serious consideration is staffing. It is difficult enough to get suitable security guards and police officers, that is suitably trained and of a temperament to be "fluffy" enough for the venue. To run a second shift would mean finding another 200 personnel. At that stage security firms start taking people off the dole queues and police seek reinforcements from less reliable members. Incidents in the past do tell us how important it is not to have untrained people, paranoid people, or thugs, on duty, who can create more problems than they prevent.
Therefore, we were asked to put forward proposals for 2003 and the future, for an access not exceeding 12 hours. Would not the ideal be something like 2AM to 2PM on Solstice day?
Would people rather not give up the evening and night, for a long morning access?
Would they be prepared to arrive late at night and depart in the following evening?
I put this out for consultation.
When this was put to the TRC21 there were differing opinions. Giving up the Sunset is an issue for at least some people.
Another issue is that the locals, want the road closure to be lifted in the morning, and this may be addressed in future years by getting the farmers to set aside an unplanted trackway from the stones to the carpark at the Gallops at Airman's Cross.
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Summer Solstice Manouevres
People will be obliged to leave the Stonehenge area by the afternoon of Friday 21st June 2002.
The Glastonbury Festival is the weekend after, and is going ahead on condition only, that the gatecrashing, and consequent overcrowding is completely stopped. Only those with tickets or valid passes will be admitted. A 16 foot high high, 5 mile long, shiny aluminium alloy wall, looking like nothing less than a set from Starwars, by now rings the entire site. This, Michael's Wall, is the eighth wonder of the World. But along the wall runs a steel roadway patrolled by 50 vehicles and hundreds of guards so you can be assured, nobody is going under over or through the wall. And if they do, that will be THE END OF GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL which is not what we want to see.
The earliest admission for genuine people will be on Wednesday 26th June, but in some cases (like key workers) possibly Tuesday night.
This means that there is a period of 4 days and 4-5 nights when those authorised to be at Pilton may be parking up somewhere. What is reported to have happened last year is instructive. There was pressure at Avebury, with some vehicles being turned away from the carpark. Some 125 vehicles were at Stockton for a period. This year there will be additional pressure because of those who would normally have weaseled in to Pilton being excluded. There could be hundreds of vehicles roaming the landscape looking for a nice place to go.
Also those who do so will be doing the responsible thing, of not upsetting Stonehenge arrangements in the future by remaining there, and not upsetting Glastonbury arrangements in the future by trying to get in there.
We alerted our Home Office contact at the Government Office (South West) who tried liasing with his colleagues in the South East region (which includes Hampshire) about the potential difficulties police and local authorities will face during late June 2002. We (both our contact and I) hoped for some joined-up government but there was in fact little interest.
I don't think people mind where, whether it might be in Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset.
I went on HTV and Wiltshire Sounds to advertise the problem and the TRC's Working Party One tried to rush iteslf into action to negotiate land for a park up. Tbese were brave attempts, which is peacespeek, for thank you everybody, even if you got shot down, it is probably too late and it is probably not happening. We ask that people DO leave the car park at Stonehenge as directed, and if the worst comes to the worst, please disperse and if necessary, Please Go Home!
In future years more can be accomplished as suggested in the next topic.
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Rainbowland Ltd.
It is strongly reccommended that the people interested in being organisers of a lawful and managed outdoor event, all work together, and form themselves into a limited company, and produce some outline plans even though no site has been identified.
A number of meetings of the group, initiated by the TRC's Working Part One, have taken place, the group has stated it is possible to organise a free but funded and properly managed event (for which there are precedents, in Camden, and run by The Exodus Collective). Wiltshire ppolice have stated their willingness to discuss the groups plans for 2004 as soon as the Solstice is out the way, and councillors in Amesbury are reported to favour a legal event. This seems to be a great opportunity for progress!
Working Party Click for reports.
At first I was reminded of the Pink Fairies who had a track about Never Never Land which has the refrain "Plan to never, ever, land" but No, this is not what we want, we do want to land, we want our feet on Mother Earth, this has to be solid. So maybe "Rainbowland Ltd." might be seen as a sound leisure enterprise. I am less happy with the idea that they call themselves "Stonehenge Solstice Celebration Ltd." but at the end of the day, I'm not doing it, I have to let them get on with it!
George Firsoff
"Though the road may be long Still journey on Till you reach your happy abode" (song)
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