THE battle over the Thornborough Henges is a classic conflict between the environment and industry; between the past and the future.

All too often, The Northern Echo has the sad duty to report on job losses in its circulation area.

We therefore sympathise with the efforts of Tarmac to maintain local jobs in a competitive market and understand the anxieties of the company's employees whose jobs may be at stake.

However, on balance, we believe that North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee was correct yesterday to reject the company's application to extend quarrying in the area around the 5,000-year-old henges.

In view of the evidence given by English Heritage that the fields in question are of national importance, it is hard to see how the committee could have reached any other conclusion.

Of course, this is not the end of the fight. Tarmac swiftly announced that it intends to appeal against the decision and it is not uncommon for planning rulings to be overturned on appeal. The fight is still to be won and it is right that the arguments are tested to the full.

But if the decision is upheld, the lengthy campaign to protect the ancient monument has to be seen to have been worth it.

If the Thornborough Henges really are of such historical significance, more must be made of their tourism potential so that nearby communities, and the local economy, can benefit as much as possible.