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Welsh historic environment review announced Democratising the cultural heritage? |
Sue Essex, minister for the environment, has launched a consultation on the future shape of historic environment policy in Wales. The document, produced for the Assembly by Paul Loveluck, Jane Sharman and Paul Drury is available online (see links) or in print format (see below). The Trust will be developing a very full response to this exciting initiative, and will be encouraging civic societies to play a full part in the process. Our conferences this year, including the north Wales meeting in Ruthin in July, will include discussion of the review and its implications, and a commentary on the consultation document will feature in the upcoming edition of About Wales.
Paul Loveluck and his colleagues base their conclusions and recommendations on a fresh approach to conservation rooted in the concept that the whole heritage, "not just statutorily designated parts of it", is an important part of our cultural inheritance. Whereas statutory designation is a "top down process", they argue that there is "a growing perception that we must add the bottom up values places by people and communities on their landscapes" to the values of experts. The implication is a redefinition of policy and organisation that brings in its train a democratisation of the cultural heritage.
In launching the review, Sue Essex said : 'All of us deserve an opportunity to comment on the priorities and mechanisms we adopt in order to manage our historic environment. For that reason I commissioned a review and put together a group of independent experts to prepare this consultation document.
''I believe that it will help further the debate about some fundamental issues surrounding the present and future management of the historic environment. This affects us all in our day to day lives, and is central to our understanding and appreciation of our physical inheritance. 'I hope that people feel sufficiently strongly about this important issue to let us know their views and opinions, and I urge them to do so. Only in this way can we move forward confidently in the knowledge that we are doing what is best for the people and the future of Wales.'
The review notes that aspects of the historic environment go well beyond the remit of any one organization. They have recommended putting in place a co-ordinating body to develop our approach to the historic environment and ensure that the many contributions already being made are mutually supportive and bring maximum benefit. There are various possibilities for providing this enhanced role and options exist for putting in place a suitable structure that will reflect a new approach to the management of the historic environment in Wales and ensure that the values embraced by the people of Wales are properly catered for. The consultation document seeks views on how this might be achieved.
A print version of the document, in English and Welsh, can be obtained from Heritage Policy Section, Cadw, Crown Building, Cathays Park, CF10 3NQ (tel 029 20 825977)
07/04/03