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Thornborough hypocrisy exposed
February 25, 2006, 1:27 pm
As editor of the Heritage Journal, people sometimes email me with their opinions. I received something this morning which is worth reproducing in full, because it neatly sums up the situation at Thornborough and exposes the bad smell of hypocracy we at Heritage Action have had stuck in our nostrils for some time.
Dear Heritage Action,
I've just been reading about what's happening up at the Thornborough Henges.
The law says you can't quarry away stuff that's of 'National Importance'. That's it in black and white. There is no grey and therefore there can be no argument.
English Heritage says the stuff Tarmac wants to quarry is of 'National Importance'. Black and white. No grey. No argument.
I'm thinking that English Heritage, as the top government body in these matters, might know what it's talking about and should be deferred to. But no! Tarmac's consultant has said: 'National interest, national significance certainly, but national importance no.'
Is it just me, or does that sound like wriggling and a bit of a cheek? He's conceding its of national interest and of national significance but he won't have it that that adds up to being nationally important. Well, call me old-fashioned, but I can't think of anything that's of national interest and significance that isn't nationally important. And I can't think of anything that's nationally important that isn't also nationally interesting and significant. So what's he on about?
I suppose there's some fancy archaeological definition of 'Nationally Important' that he's trying to interpret his way. But he's ruined whatever faint hope he had of doing that by admitting it's of national significance. He might get a hearing on Planet La-la but in the real common sense world. he now has no case at all.
He's blown it, with a few simple words. Keep on his case, you lovely protestors. Keep telling the world what he said.
Oh, we intend to, Dear Writer! And thank you for summing it up so nicely for us!
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