Heritage job cut plans attacked
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.PUBLIC confidence in English Heritage has been damaged by its plans to shed responsibility for historic monuments and cut specialist staff, the Council for British Archaeology said yesterday.
After the first meeting between the council, which comprises more than 350 local archaeological bodies, and Jocelyn Stevens, chairman of English Heritage, Dr Peter Addyman, president of the council, said members were 'extremely worried' that proposals to shed more than 100 craftsmen who maintain historic sites would weaken the government agency's 'critical mass in expertise'.
Richard Morris, director, said public respect had been diminished by the agency's ambiguous explanation of its 'Priorities for the 1990s' strategy, under which management of more than 100 'lesser regional' monuments would be transferred to local authorities, trusts and voluntary groups. It was unclear whether it was designed to save money or to provide better care of sites.
On Monday, delegates at the council's annual winter meeting unanimously approved a memorandum which calls on English Heritage to abandon attempts to 'grade' monuments in order of importance, enabling the agency to retain control of 'the crown jewels'.
Transferring management responsibility to hard-pressed local authorities could 'impoverish . . . what is most typical and characteristic of England's heritage', it says.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments