More than 400 sign protest petition

11:24am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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A SOLUTION to what has been dubbed the "new Stonehenge" in the Costwold town of Moreton-in-Marsh is a step nearer after a public meeting.

The meeting was called following a public protest including a petition signed by 400 people complaining at the stones that were put on the town's green to stop people parking on the grass and damaging kerbstones.

Now the town council has decided on the casting vote of its chairman to remove the stones outside Budgens supermarket and the doctor's surgery and place the others further from the road.

It was also decided that some of the larger boulders will be split to make them smaller and less obtrusive.

Three other stones have been painted with milk and yoghurt to encourage the growth of lichen and make them blend in better with their surroundings. If this works other stones may be treated in the same way or with cow manure.

However, objectors are going to have to wait because before any of the work can be done Heather Sipthrop, the town clerk has to determine the cost and this expenditure will need to be considered by a full meeting of the Council.

She said that this was unlikely to be in time for the April meeting and so the matter would take time to resolve.