[Gayle]

Answers to Busman747's questions

It's a pity you could not be straight forward like Graham Jones who gained much respect on this site simply by being honest.

I thought that was precisely what I was doing by coming on the forum.

WHO will pay for future maintenance?

HBC will be responsible for future maintenance as they are now.

WHO will stop grafitti?

It is very hard to paint graffiti on grass which is what the surface of an earth work is made of. I don't expect graffiti to be a problem. However, on the subject of graffiti, Peter Beard has been in touch will English Heritage and they have said that if we submit an application to them for some funding they will most likely provide the means to refurbish the monument and shelter - something that has been long needed.

If the Panopticon is going to be such a great crowd-puller, are there going to be toilet blocks built as it is so far away from Accrington?

No, it's unlikely that there will be a toilet block built.

Will the Hyndburn council make the Panopticon available to all including the infirm? At the moment, only the more fit people can access the dangerous climb up to the top of the coppice.

The Panopticon itself will not make the Coppice more accessible to the infirm. However, as part of the wider scheme it is hoped that paths will be done so access should be easier. The main route that is used is from Avenue Parade and I agree that is very steep for a wheel chair (also steps make it impossible) but that is not the only route up there. The route via Arden Hall is being reviewed at the moment and Friends of Arden Hall have applied for a lot of funding to look at paths and access.

Have you personally been up there?

Yes, many times.