From: Andy Burnham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 31 March 2001 21:21

As you may know I have a live web database of about 2500 ancient sites
around the UK & Ireland. This displays information about each one and is
searchable, so the obvious thing to do was to add information as to whether
each is open or closed due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak.

Obviously the vast majority of sites are currently still closed, but as they
open bit by bit, visitors can get information from the site as to what is
open.

Here is Derbyshire for instance:
http://www.stonehenge.uklinux.net/search.php?&county=15
to see one of the few sites that we know is currently open.

For this to work, I will need people to submit information - I'd especially
like to encourage the various local authority people to submit information
on sites in your area.

What do you think? Are you prepared to report on the status of your
local sites? Rather than deluge me with e-mail the best way is to go to
http://www.stonehenge.uklinux.net and search for
the site in the search box. Add a comment to the page saying
SITE OPEN or SITE CLOSED. I'll then convert that into a proper icon. Add
some other comments while you're at it!

Cheers,
Andy

Background:

The PM was talking last week about opening up the countryside again, bit by
bit
and getting the visitors coming back.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1248000/1248113.stm
Tony Blair has reiterated the government's commitment to helping a UK
tourist industry whose revenue is being threatened by the foot-and-mouth
crisis.

The rural tourist industry - worth £12bn a year in England alone - is
already losing an estimated £100m a week, and faces a nightmare Easter
season if visitors continue to stay away.

Mr Blair told the British Chamber of Commerce annual conference many rural
businesses were being hit by the lack of visitors and said: "All of us have
got to get over the message that Britain is indeed open for business.

"The message is clear, go and visit the countryside, but stay off the
farmland," Mr Blair added.

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Andy Burnham http://www.megalithic.co.uk
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