'Battle' well publicised

The Sealed Knot event in the park was held as part of the Council's Millennium Festival, which has been widely publicised throughout the year.

In the last month over 1,000 letters have been sent out to local residents explaining the likely impact of the Sealed Knot's activities in the park.

Notices were on display throughout the park from Thursday though it is clear that some of these were deliberately torn down.

It was politely pointed out to Mr Walsh and stepson that a number of nearby alternative routes were open to them and an explanation of the need to close that particular path was given -- this being for public safety purposes as the Sealed Knot, under licence, store gunpowder on their site. Most other walkers in the same situation as Mr Walsh accepted our reason with good humour and did use one of the paths that remained open.

On Friday when this incident took place less than 10 acres out of Witton Park's 330 acres were on restricted access.

On Saturday and Sunday the Battle of Blackburn was an event for which an entrance fee was changed.

This was not the first time a paying event has taken place in this location nor should I imagine will it be the last.

On both days approximately 28 acres were closed to unlimited public access partly to accommodate the battle itself and partly to prevent unaware members of the public from straying into the path of advancing columns of armed men and women or cavalry.

On both days alternative routes across Witton were open and stewards were even prepared to walk other park users through restricted access where no viable alternative existed.

To the best of my knowledge as site supervisor, 98 per cent of those who wanted to visit the park for reasons other than attending the Battle accepted the limited restrictions with good grace; there will always be some though who do not wish to compromise.

CARL HUTTON, Millennium Co-ordinator, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.