Heritage Protection Bill

[Sparky]

Er...but if EH (and possibly the IfA (heaven forbid!)) aren't advising the government on heritage matters, who is? Or, who is telling the truth?

'Mum!!! Can you get me the toilet roll, please!'

Noam Chomsky

[BAJR Host]

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3119658

previous story .. again showing that whoever was advising has made some serious errors.. or have they?

What's the story? that's what I would like to know.

Any suggestions of direct contacts to find out what's happening?

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[kevin wooldridge]

Ummm.....not sure that there is really a story here at this particular moment in time. The lack of Conservation Officers in post at many local authorities merely highlights the fact that local government rarely has the resources to appoint to positions other than those fulfilling its statutory obligations.

However, there is a story bubbling under here and the MP for Stockport's suggestion that economic regeneration should be as significant a factor in scheduling/listing as archaeology etc seems to me to potentially place a firework up the rectum of this particular hedgehog legislation. So some official gets to decide that the designation 'regeneration' (officalese for effectively the self-interest of a few hard-up property speculators) is of greater 'good' than any form of cultural, archaeological or historic interest.

We may as well all volunteer to become hedgehogs!!

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

"We may as well all volunteer to become hedgehogs"
Might as well do, we'd probably get more sympathy!:face-thinks:

[BAJR Host]

Uh---Oh :face-huh:

quote:Mr. Jeremy Hunt (South-West Surrey) (Con): Will the Secretary of State confirm rumours that the heritage protection Bill has been dropped from the Queen’s Speech? If that is the case, is that not the final nail in the coffin for the Government’s heritage policies? We have seen lottery money plundered, the Government telling churches to turn themselves into cafés and gyms and now the denial of the vital parliamentary time that would allow the heritage sector better to look after the heritage that belongs to us all. When can we have a positive vision for our heritage sector? Is it condemned to yet more years of neglect and decline?

Andy Burnham: I do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s criticism. In the recent spending round, English Heritage received an increase in funding. We have worked with all parties in the heritage sector to introduce the first heritage protection Bill for 30 years. That is clear evidence of the Government’s commitment to the sector. The hon. Gentleman knows that I cannot comment on the Queen’s Speech in advance of its publication. However, he will know that the Planning Bill will require us to bring forward a new planning policy statement on the built heritage, replacing planning policy guidance 15 and 16. We will do so shortly, and we will issue that statement for consultation. We recognise the importance of the built heritage and we are taking active steps to protect it.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa...1107000462


That looks like a politician saying... it's out? [xx(]



"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[historic building]

Notice the references only to built heritage, not heritage. Or am I just too cynical today...

[BAJR Host]

yup... be cynical... I noticed that as well.. a very precise 'built heritage' ... er... and the other 'stuff' ?

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[1man1desk]

Posted by BAJR Host

quote:That looks like a politician saying... it's out?

Actually, it looked to me like a politician saying that he can't comment on the content of the Queen's speech in advance, but here's a list of all the nice things in train for heritage that have been previously announced.

Really, there's not much point in speculating about whether the Queen's Speech will include the Heritage Bill until we hear it. What would be worth-while would be to write to our MPs to flag it up - that could put pressure on the Government not to drop it, assuming that dropping it is under consideration and the decision has not yet been made one way or another.

1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[vulpes]

Of course opinions on this depend heavily on whether you view the HPB as an essential improvement or just as the emperor's new clothes. Funny how there is no Scottish equivalent. Also, the really key areas of improvement are in relation to the built environment with the exception of statutory HERs. The really important stuff could have been brought in without a entirely new bill and the new designations and their administration will probably bring about more confusion with a public who have had over 50 years to get used to listed buildings and scheduled monuments only to have them replaced by Heritage Assets. I'm also not sure why handing the consents regime for nationally important archaeological sites to local authorities is seen as a good thing. I notice that EH / DCMS are retaining the designatory power. This is just a case of them washing their hands of all that time consuming management guff. Are the inspectors and field monument wardens going to be put on notice as surplus to requirements?

[BAJR Host]

your right 1man... but... put it this way.. I ain't putting money on it!
You are also quit right about writing to the MP...
so folks... http://www.writetothem.com/



"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers