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28th November 2007, 11:03 AM
shortish-term pain I suspect - long-term is the need for housing to meet the government targets, and also ultimately for housing companies to maintain cash flow and liquidate assets held in land banks (often low investment yield farmland). The process of planning consent for large schemes is so long-winded now anyway that archaeology, at least to evaluation stage, will get done as part of that, so they are ready to build when market improves.
However, you may well find that the "diggers' market" of the last 18 months has a chill wind blowing through in coming months, and not just because it's winter.
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28th November 2007, 11:08 AM
I fear the same... VoR. This is where skills should come in, where a larger number of 'diggers' can transmute into an office staff seemlessly. Until field staff are required again. The other option (one that I followed through my life) is to bggr off to hot countries from November to April. However... that did leave me with a hole in my income....
I learned more skills so that when I was not digging I could illustrate or survey or maintain data ....
Skills is the key... training....
If you are a digger now... think about the future ....
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
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28th November 2007, 01:53 PM
Quote:quote:The scale of the projects (in Northamptonshire, it's 5,000 houses a year for the next 20 years) required to meet the figures in the RSSes will mean that they will require EIAs (and this is because of EU law as well as UK law) and they encompass the archaeological resource as well as the natural environment
Northants is not a particularly good example here given the current lack of archaeological advice to the districts and the delivery agencies (although the county do have someone now I believe). Without crucial curator input at all stages EIAs are pointless with regard to archaeology. And with nobody to produce briefs and monitor archaeological work further down the line I can't see this area producing employment for anyone save EIA producing consultants.
But perhaps you know something I don't. That said this ain't the only area undergoing massive Prescott initiated housing expansion, so there should be plenty of work elsewhere for some years to come.
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28th November 2007, 03:18 PM
Northants do indeed have someone now. There are a large number of projects currently on going in the area and are all going through the EIA process and archaeology is being given full attention - I know the consultants blokes doing it - and am rather hoping that the fieldwork comes our way - nudge nudge.
A trowel is a thing to lust for!
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28th November 2007, 06:32 PM
I can see the shortage of diggers will continue for quite a while yet. In the news today is the Olympic Park.
As for the curatorial situation in Northants my understanding of the situation is very different to what people are suggesting.
It is clearly improving.
Peter
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29th November 2007, 10:11 AM
I'm sorry but you are both dead wrong. The curatorial situation has improved only marginally with the appointment of someone by the County. As was made clear in the job ad for this post this individual will only advise on County schemes - i.e. minerals, schools, highways etc. No advice will be given to the districts or the West Northants Development Corporation - who are specifically responsible for the majority of this development. Archaeologists in Northants and neighbouring areas are concerned by this lack of provision which is clearly threatening the archaeological resource. If ya don't believe this take a look at this current news item - it would seem that the only advice WNDC are getting is from concerned professionals not in their employ. This is no way to ensure the protection or management of archaeology:
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/A...3528722.jp
EIAs are all well and good, but without the input of an experienced and knowledgable local archaeological curator - working for the people of the area concerned they are just developers' charters'. The problems in Northants have not gone away, they are getting worse as development pressure builds.
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29th November 2007, 01:17 PM
Posted by BAJR Host:
Quote:quote:This is where skills should come in, where a larger number of 'diggers' can transmute into an office staff seemlessly. Until field staff are required again.
That can help a few individuals - but if there is low demand for diggers, pretty shortly afterwards there will also be a low demand for office staff in units, so it's not a solution for many people.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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29th November 2007, 01:29 PM
Posted by Vulpes:
Quote:quote:Without crucial curator input at all stages EIAs are pointless with regard to archaeology.
I would certainly agree that the archaeological input to an EIA can be weakened by lack of adequate curator input, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it is pointless.
If the scope of work on an EIA has not been adequate, or if the conclusions are not defensible, then the scheme is open to challenge during the consultation period (potentially leading to a Public Inquiry, at which the conclusions would have to be defended). Even if it gets past that stage, any decision on a planning application is open to legal challenge - and there are cases on record of planning decisions being overturned in court because of faults in the EIA.
One thing any EIA consultant wants to avoid is a PI challenge or subsequent legal challenge on the basis of the inadequacy of their work.
If a proposed scheme is in any way controversial, experience shows that there will be people out there looking for any excuse to challenge the EIA, and if the archaeology looks weak they are likely to pick up on that.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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29th November 2007, 03:32 PM
I'm sorry but EIAs do lack a point if they lead to or include evaluation or mitigation and there is no curator in place to set briefs, approve specs, monitor the work etc. Anyway the situation in Northants does not just concern proposals covered by the EIA process it is much broader and a lack of curatorial coverage is of great concern. The possibility of a legal challenge or public enquiry is no substitute for planning authorities having access to the advice of an impartial, experienced and knowledgable curator.
Read on:
Archaeologists win last-minute demolition reprieve
Archaeologists have won a last-minute reprieve from planners to halt the demolition of a factory in Northampton which is situated on an historic Saxon burial ground.
After passionate pleas by three members of the public, WNDC planners were forced to admit they had not realised the significance of the site and suggested there was a shortfall in archaeological expertise at local authorities.
The site between Gregory Street and Horseshoe Street currently houses a martial arts school and a taxi firm but was listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a site of national historic interest following the discovery of Saxon remains.
Former conservation officer for Northamptonshire County Council, Martin Ellison, said: "This area needs much greater consideration and respect than it has been given in the planning report.
"I had expected a greater level of protest from English Heritage but unfortunately that has not been forthcoming. It isa disgrace that the factory could be demolished without consideration of further archaeological finds which might be discovered underneath."
Plans to demolish the building and turn it into 46 apartments and three commercial units had been approved in principle at an earlier meeting of the WNDC, but planning officer Adrian Arnold vowed to take another look at the history of the site and urged members of the committee to defer any decision until that had been done.
Archaeological digs at the factory have previously uncovered evidence of a medieval town and Saxon artefacts.
Councillor Penny Flavell (Con, St Crispin) said: "I am deeply concerned that it has taken the intervention of the public to come here to tell us of the significance of this site, and it is to their great credit that they have done so.
"Thank goodness they did, because this is a site of national importance."
The full article contains 304 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.Last Updated: 29 November 2007 8:26 AM
Not really a 'pot person'.
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29th November 2007, 03:56 PM
Despite it being Scheduled they "had not realised the significance of the site".... you think the Scheduled status would have been a clue, really. I wonder why EH did not "protest"?
