§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations she has received on the complex of prehistoric remains near166W Nosterfield in North Yorkshire, which include three large henges; and whether the henges are scheduled ancient monuments; [141444]
(2) what action she takes to preserve important megalithic monuments; [141445]
(3) if she will instruct English Heritage to take urgent steps to provide adequate legal protection for the whole of the setting of the Thornborough henge site to ensure that the planning authority (a) recognises and (b) will be obliged to take into account the national importance of the site. [141447]
§ Mr. CabornA number of representations have been received both at DCMS and at English Heritage from a diverse range of organisations.
Most important megalithic monuments are scheduled as ancient monuments and as such are protected from uncontrolled disturbance by the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. Additional protection is provided by the Government's Planning Policy Guidance on Archaeology and Planning (PPG 16).
The site is Scheduled as an Ancient Monument under the title of "Earth circles, cursus, pit alignments and burial sites near Nosterfield and Thornborough, including Centre Hill round barrow, Hambleton, North Yorkshire—County Monument No. 36".
English Heritage is concerned about the wider landscape setting of the henge monuments and is currently funding a project by Newcastle University to undertake extensive archaeological research in this area. My Officials are supporting English Heritage's firm opposition to any further gravel extraction in the vicinity of the scheduled site until the research is completed, and the archaeology is better understood.