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| Stone Formation Archive 1999 |
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 Stone Formations news, views, gallery and archive brought to you by Weird Wiltshire Introduction Latest News News Archive Stonehenge Stonehenge Project Stonehenge 360 Avebury Saviours Stones Village Solstice Wayland Smithy Long Barrow Woodhenge Gallery Summer Solstice Gallery 2002 Summer Solstice Gallery 2004 Postcards Wallpaper Links  |
First Published June 21 1999 POLICE today condemned a summer solstice invasion of Stonehenge during which officers clashed with hundreds of New Age travellers. Twenty-three people were arrested after hundreds smashed down the perimeter fence early today and stormed the ancient monument preventing a party of around 150 with special access including druids, astrologists and councillors - from going to the site. Around 100 police officers with protective clothing and riot shields - some on horseback - were at the site. They arrested 23 people, 20 for aggravated trespass, two for assaulting police and one for drugs offences. Stonehenge, which is owned by English Heritage, was the scene of fierce fighting during the 1980s when the authorities clamped down on hippies holding an annual rock concert during the longest day. This year, for the first time since the notorious Battle of the Beanfield in 1985, a four year total exclusion zone was lifted from the site after a High Court order. Wiltshire police divisional controller Superintendent Andy Hollingshead said: 'By about 2am a crowd of about 600 people had gathered. A significant minority among this crowd made a concerted effort to push down the fence and this was achieved quickly. 'Once they had broken down the fence about 400 people, including women and children, occupied the monument and refused to leave. 'Though the behaviour was provocative, police officers were able to move these people back to the road. However, they had sufficiently disrupted the morning to mean special access had to be cancelled. 'This was an example of selfish behaviour by a minority who believe they had the right to do exactly what they want with no thought for others or the consequences. 'As it was, their actions caused the special access arrangement to be cancelled to create an unseemly spectacle at one of our most ancient monuments. 'The real losers are the genuine members of the public who just want to watch the dawn rise peacefully, which is their right and which was denied to them.' Clews Everard, English Heritage's director of Stonehenge, said: 'Tragically because of what happened today the druids and others who were going to have special access were unable to visit the site.' But reveller Simon Sturrit, 31, said that people who gained access to the site had caused no trouble or violence and were only having a good time. Youth hostel worker Simon, of Salisbury, added: 'We came here to enjoy ourselves and to watch the rising of the sun. 'English Heritage feels that people aren't allowed on the site but early this morning we all managed to gain access and just had a good time. 'There was no violence, there was no trouble. It was just people who were denied access from the henge wanting to go there to celebrate.' Back to 1999 index |
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