News - Architectural heritage under threat of permanent decline

NOTTS has no shortage of important historic buildings – with landmarks like Newstead Abbey and Hodsock Priory attracting thousands of visitors each year.

But a new survey by English Heritage has shown that many of the county's most loved buildings are in danger of a rapid decline if more is not done to look after them.

The charity has published its annual At Risk register today and 11 extra buildings in the county make the list for the first time, with none having been removed.

Overall the East Midlands has the third highest number of buildings at risk in the UK, with 192 identified – 4.5 per cent of all buildings.

Notts sites make up 33 of those.

Planning director for the East Midlands Anthony Streeten, of English Heritage, said the high number of new buildings this year is not surprising given that this is the first year that churches have been included in the register.

"If you think about places in the city and the county it's very often the churches that have the greatest architectural quality," he said.

"In rural Nottinghamshire, for example, it's very often the parish church that's the most highly graded building, so if it's in poor condition it's a matter of great concern."

As well as churches, the register includes country houses, collieries, viaducts and hotels.

Mr Streeten says the fact no buildings have been taken off the list shows how difficult it is to restore listed buildings and how important it is that people take ownership of them.

"I think it's a pattern we've come to expect," he said. "Very often you get a pattern of some coming on and some coming off, but this year there weren't any that came off and that shows how difficult it is with some of the big projects – to get the funding together and to get the project off the ground and ready to deliver.

"That doesn't mean people shouldn't try, though. As traditional manufacturing across the East Midlands' has shrunk over the years, we have a responsibility to safeguard the visible reminders of our industrial heritage.

"Everyone has a part to play in ensuring that significant survivals from our industrial past do not fall prey to dereliction, decay and ultimately demolition."

English Heritage is launching a national five-point action plan, which will include help for developers, owners, heritage rescue groups and industrial sites preserved as visitor attractions.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Architectural-heritage-threat-permanent-decline/story-13598710-detail/story.html

News -English Heritage praises Pleasley Colliery restoration

Preservation work at a colliery on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border has been praised by English Heritage.

Pleasley Colliery's restoration, which has been carried out by a group of volunteers, was said to be a "great example" of how to preserve the rich industrial history of the region.

The colliery, near Mansfield, is one of 129 buildings listed on the East Midlands' "at risk" register.

See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15367359 for a video report

News - Push to preserve Notts' heritage

A WARNING has been made that essential knowledge about some of Notts' oldest buildings could be lost under council cuts.

The concern comes from within Notts County Council itself, as the authority tries to save money by cutting staff in its conservation team.

The team is to be reduced from just under 34 full-time post to six, following budget cuts agreed earlier this year.

But there are fears that the loss of expertise will mean some old buildings and memorials will be forgotten.

At a meeting of the council's communities and the environment committee, chairman councillor Sue Saddington said: "If our heritage falls through the net it will be lost forever."

The committee has been looking at how to cope with the cuts and will make recommendations in September. Some of the suggestions include:

Updating the council's register of heritage buildings in Notts at risk, which was created in 2004 – but it could take up to five years to complete a new version.

Considering how best to continue to apply for heritage funding towards the upkeep of structures – the council has received over £5 million from different bodies in recent years towards preserving assets.

Start charging district councils for background information supplied for planning applications, in order to raise money for the council's conservation and heritage department. The service is currently free of charge.

On the last of these, Ms Saddington added: "In order for us to preserve what we have in our department it could be an advantage that district councils pay for the service."

But Councillor Mike Quigley said: "If we are really convinced that conservation and heritage are important then we need to have a strategy in place into the future."

And vice-chairman Councillor Geoff Merry said: "The most important thing that we have got to do is look at the knowledge of staff that we need to keep.

"That information and knowledge needs to be there for others to pick up."

The review has seen the committee visit a number of the 400-plus historic sites owned by the county council in recent months, including Rufford Abbey and King John's Palace, in King's Clipstone.

After the review findings are finalised at the committee's next meeting in September, recommendations will be presented to the county council's Cabinet for discussion.

From: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Push-preserve-Notts-heritage/story-12980863-detail/story.html