Poor response by public and councillors to henges day

The event tomorrow at the Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton, has been organised by the Yorkshire group of the Council for British Archaeology, in conjunction with the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, amid controversy over the possible effects of quarrying on the setting of the Thornborough henges.

The conference, which will try to establish an objective and considered view of the archaeological consequences of continued quarrying in the area around the earthwork henges, will be attended by leading archaeologists and representatives of Tarmac Northern, English Heritage, North Yorkshire County Council and local campaign group the Friends of Thornborough.

It follows a public meeting on similar lines in West Tanfield earlier this month at which Tarmac's consultant archaeologist was criticised by the Friends for his comments about discoveries made so far in the area, saying the greatest threat was posed not by quarrying but by farmers ploughing land.

Tarmac wants to secure the future of Nosterfield quarry, where sand and gravel reserves are expected to be exhausted within three years, by extending operations to nearby Ladybridge Farm, north of the existing workings, and to Thornborough Moor, the site of the henges.

A planning application for Ladybridge Farm is expected to be considered by the county council planning committee next month, but Tarmac has confirmed that it will not press ahead with any application for Thornborough Moor until recommendations arising from a conservation strategy are known.

Tomorrow's conference in Northallerton has been organised by John Sheehan, secretary of the Yorkshire group of the CBA, who said it would be attended by a sprinkling of county council officers, including chief planner Simon Smales.

Mr Sheehan added, however, that he had been disappointed by the response from elected County Hall members, some of whom would eventually be called on to make vital decisions.

He said personal invitations had been sent to each county councillor about three weeks ago. One member had sent his apologies because he had other commitments and another had indicated possible attendance, but there had been silence from the rest.

Mr Sheehan said: "I am pretty disgusted at this apparent apathy and lack of courtesy in even replying.

"We have about 150 people coming, which is a decent number. The event will predominantly involve archaeologists, but we were more interested in elected representatives and the public, and the response has not been what we expected.

"'We had thought that some elected representatives would have become involved if only to listen and gather information. This is a very important issue, not just for the archaeology but for the wider implications for the landscape.''

Mike Sanders, a spokesman for the Friends of Thornborough, said: "It is very disappointing. The invitations gently tried to point out to members that it would be useful to hear the arguments that will be put forward at the conference so that they would be better able to make decisions."

County council leader John Weighell, whose Bedale division includes the henges and their surroundings, said: "I have not had any information that I can recall on this conference, but that does not necessarily apply to anyone else."

On the general question of the conference being attended by members who would be called on to make important decisions, he said: "If they are briefed too much, members like those on the planning committee could put themselves in the position of having to declare an interest under the rules by which we have to operate today."

Coun Weighell said the county council had established a general advisory committee, of which he was a member, to consider with partner organisations and the public all aspects of the environment in the West Tanfield area as well as the henges.

It was chaired by the executive member for the environment and membership included the Friends of Thornborough