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The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map : Index >>
General Forum >> CBA Director on BBC Making History: local archaeology services are not a disposable asset
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CBA Director on BBC Making History: local archaeology services are not a disposable asset |
Andy B
Joined:
13-02-2001
Messages: 7001
from Surrey, UK
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|  Posted 04-10-2011 at 17:16
CBA Director, Mike Heyworth, interviewed on BBC’s Making History programme today, has highlighted the importance of local authority archaeology services and how crucial local archaeological advisers are to ensuring that the heritage is properly considered in development.
The programme focuses on Merseyside, where the five local planning authorities (Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral, Sefton and St Helens councils) have now ceased funding the Merseyside Archaeology Service. The Historic Environment Record (HER) for Merseyside has been re-opened to the public but is charging on a consultancy basis. The HER has been developed in conjunction with research by local groups, like the Merseyside Archaeological Society, interviewed on the programme, over the last 30 years. It is a unique public asset and information resource for planning and development – an essential point of reference for planning authorities like Liverpool – also a World Heritage Site – and Wirral, with major development projects along their watersides. The CBA is pleased to hear that Liverpool City Council is considering how it can improve rather than cut the service.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) spokesperson said:
Residents rightly expect their council to maintain key services and to deliver their legal duties including heritage protection. National planning policy is clear about the importance of archaeology and our heritage assets… The draft National Planning Policy Framework reaffirms and makes much clearer, protection for the historic environment. It also encourages councils to set out how they will protect and improve heritage most at risk through neglect or decay, for the enjoyment of communities now and in the future
Local authorities like Sandwell Borough Council, which recently decided that its archaeology and HER functions "are not core services to the planning service and could almost be considered luxury" are simply failing to fulfil their public duties as planning authorities and in terms of wider European Directives, and will rightly be challenged on this by local people. Failing to provide these services simply creates more uncertainty for development, with the risk of unexpected discoveries and expensive delays, at a time when sustainable growth is so important. These authorities are simply turning their backs on the opportunity of levering significant investment into enhancing their rich local heritage with all its potential for community benefit and the growth of tourism business.
Mike Heyworth commented:
Many local people do not realise just what enormous good value our public archaeological services are. By ensuring that development, regeneration and public realm projects all include provision for investigating and protecting the heritage, millions of pounds of private sector investment in the historic environment are released for public benefit. A very modest level of public funding produces a huge dividend. We understand that the current stringencies in public expenditure are unavoidable. The CBA wants to support local authorities who are looking creatively at how they retain services by sharing resources and expertise to deliver even better public value.
The CBA is urging local archaeological and history societies and civic groups to make their voices heard and to ask their local authorities to explain how they are planning to ensure that the historic environment services necessary to inform new development and the Local Plan are available on a firm footing for the future.
The interview is here (7 days only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/mhistory
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