Heritage closures and cutbacks

[drpeterwardle]

David,

I fundamentally disagree. The situation in Scotland is very different to England.

It not a question of cutbacks but - it is about what the nature of local government is about.

In my area with unitary authourities, following outsourcing of archaeology to the private sector by the county, has been a very positive thing for conservation with a net doubling of posts. (The lib dems get somethings right!) The unitaries employ in one case 3 people based in a museum and the others contract three archaeologists based in another museum.

Private sector people are hired in to cover gaps. There is excellant community archaeology.

The issue is about how local spends money and how the planning system operates. We were brain washed by the "cuts" of the Thatcher to think that all "cuts" were a bad thing. Rationalisation and having an integrated conservation system for above and below ground archaeology, buildings and conservation areas is what is needed.

The place for LPA advisors is in the place where the decisions are made. A district or unitary authourity. That is where historic environment professionals should be placed.

Peter

[BAJR Host]

Ouch ..... B)

However... jobs will be lost, even if the private secor then comes in and does them (so I could agree that the net loss/gain is evened out)

But I want stats... facts and figures...

If heritage is not at the heart of planning, landscape and countryside, enviroment etc at both local, unitary and national political levels.... Then pretty soon the Private sector will not have any archaeology to dig.

One head of a council Planning Dept (who asked to remain nameless) told me that to save money.. the staff levels would be cut by 65% and watching briefs would be used as a condition... though if things were found... it was unlikely that they would present a 'material' problem in the construction process... as economic development would outway archaeology as a consideration.

Take away the resources at council level and soon the contractor will not have the work ... ??

Another day another WSI?

[Hugh]

quote:Originally posted by Moley

Counties vs Unitaries?. It really depends on where you are.

And also the development pressures. I know of one county that has only two archaeologists, and one unitary less than half of its size that has three. The county has a low level of development and therefore one planning officer can cover all the work while the other officer maintains the SMR. I'ts not a perfect setup and the archaeology would undoubtedly be better served by a larger unit, but that is how it is.
On terms of cutbacks I know of one county that is dealing with its cutback by sacking several tiers of upper management, you know the ones who swan about doing nothing. This county has a fairly large archaeological unit so it shows that archaeology will not neccessarily be the first target for cutbacks.

When I look at the smiles on all the children's faces, I just know they're about to jab me with something.

[deepdigger]

There is a rumour going around that Europe is heading into a recession period again, this could well be true. If it is, does anyone think there will still be any heritage jobs left?

deep

[kevin wooldridge]

quote:Originally posted by archae_logical

And don't forget National Parks have their own planning system

According to yesterday's Times, cuts in available funds to the Lake District National Park mean that 29 staff are threatened with redundancy and eduacation and conservation projects are being cancelled.

[deepdigger]

As soon as there is a cloud on the horizon the heritage sector is the first to face cutbacks, not being seen to be all that important to the economy!

deep