MADAM, AM I wrong, is there not a rule that when, during any construction, important archeological remains are discovered work must stop until full examination has been carried out and assessment made as to the value of the discoveries? Then, if the discovery is important the work must cease and the site be preserved even if it stops the building. The discovery of the serpent is said to be of the same ranking as Stonehenge. That sounds like an over statement. But obviously if this is 4000 years old, is unique, is of national and even of European importance then to bury it under a road is an act of gross irresponsibility and I suspect illegal. It is not obvious that the County Council is acting responsibly. What is the opinion of English Heritage and the Ministry of the Environment? I think they are in charge of ancient monuments. Is the County Council considering the possibilities? If this is a unique construction, if it is of such rare significance it must not simply be reburied? How much tourist value will be thrown away? This could put Herefordshire on the map along with such sites as Sutton Hoo, Sillbury Hill, the White Horses and other carvings in Wiltshire. All work should cease. The road should be diverted. Would the Terra Cotta Warriors have been built over? I am not the only one who feels this is being rushed through far too quickly for the sake of a road. This could provide information from 40 centuries ago that could be lost. The County Council should immediately consult with Westminster and check if what it is doing is even lawful, let alone sensible. It should consider the economic value of this discovery in a county that has tourism as a major industry. If this does not happen it looks like shortsighted vandalism. Perhaps this site has been praised too highly. But we must be sure before it is hidden, perhaps for centuries, and the possibilities it offers are thrown away. Councillor Derek Bedford, Ross
