Even kings have problems with councils, it seems.

Arthur Pendragon, the self-titled druid king of Britain and who says he’s the reincarnation of King Arthur, is suing over a parking charge at Stonehenge.

He’s also taking action against a police force and English Heritage over the £15 fee.

King Arthur believes the charge is ‘illegal’ for worshippers to the stones for the summer solstice, dubbing ‘pay to pray’.

The charge was introduced for this year’s event on June 21, which saw 12,000 people flock to Stonehenge, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, to mark the longest day of the year.

When Mr Pendragon refused to fork out – saying the £15 fee is ‘grossly unfair’ as it is three times what tourists pay on any other day of the year – he was barred from the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 62-year-old, who rides a motorbike, decided to take action against the ‘money-grabbing’ authorities because it breaches his human rights.

Mr Pendragon – an ex-soldier and biker gang leader who was born John Timothy Rothwell to parents May and Wilfred – said he will do ‘whatever it takes’ to win.

He said: ‘If you go to Stonehenge as a tourist today you will pay £5, but if you go there on the solstice as a pilgrim they make you pay ££15.

‘As soon as they bring in a parking charge, it means it is virtually impossible to attend unless you pay. They are stopping me from praying.’

English Heritage has previously stated that it needs to charge the fee as £60,000 is spent on parking facilities during summer solstice.

He said: ‘It is all about money. Stonehenge is getting 1.3 million tourists a year – it is English Heritage’s biggest cash cow.

‘We wouldn’t even mind if it was a bit fairer, but charging tourists £5 and pilgrims £15 is not right – we are being penalised for going there to worship.

‘I’m fighting this all by myself. I’ve got no solicitors or barristers to help me.

‘I will pursue it through the courts in whatever which way I can. I will not go quietly into night because this is a matter of religious freedom.

‘You wouldn’t charge people to go to a church, mosque or synagogue, and if you did there would be a riot. They are doing this because we are a minority religion.

‘We want assurances for the future. Nobody should be made to pay to attend the summer solstice and worship.

‘It is just an avaricious way of ripping off not only tourists, but also pilgrims. And it is getting ridiculous.’

Wiltshire Police have said they will challenge Mr Pendragon’s action, but he has not yet received a formal response from Wiltshire Council or English Heritage.

A police spokesman said: ‘We have received a claim, and as proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.’

Wiltshire Council said: ‘We have received a claim, however it would be inappropriate to comment further.’

And English Heritage said: ‘We can confirm that Mr Pendragon is proceeding against us and it would be inappropriate to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.’

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Richard Hartley-Parkinson

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