A new publication has been launched by the Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group (VSCG) on responsible management of visitor sites, including inputs from Cadw, Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, The Historic Houses Association and other built and natural heritage agencies.
The Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group writes:
- How do we balance the benefits and risks experienced by visitors to heritage properties?
- What techniques can we use to minimise the risks without damaging historic landscapes and buildings?
- How do we meet our responsibilities without taking away people’s sense of freedom and adventure?
- To what extent should we encourage access to properties that have outstanding heritage asset value?
Members of the Visitor Safety in the Countryside Group (VSCG) have long experience of managing a wide range of heritage properties receiving millions of visitors each year. The VSCG has just published a brand new publication Managing Visitor Safety in the Historic Built Environment ~ principles & practice. It is a companion volume to Managing Visitor Safety in the Countryside, now in its third edition, with sales over 4,000.
The new publication will help anyone who invites or allows members of the public to:
- castles, cathedrals and churches
- stately homes, landscape gardens and estates
- bridges and aqueducts
- parks, follies and earthworks
- industrial heritage sites
- visitor centres in historic places
The opening section of the book lays out the guiding principles that give managers the confidence to make decisions when balancing risk with benefits. It then shows you how to set about it in practice, with chapters on planning & organising and risk assessment. There are supporting chapters covering:
- the role of information & education in risk control
- incident reporting & investigation
- emergency planning & procedures
- the law & visitor safety.
The brand new publication Managing Visitor Safety in the Historic Built Environment is endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive. ‘HSE supports the VSCG’s commitment to promoting a sensible and proportionate approach to managing visitor safety in the historic built environment. This guidance provides a valuable framework for managing risks to visitors which is sensitive to the historic value of the properties and landscape and does not unduly restrict public access.’
Copies can be purchased from York Publishing Services, price £15 (plus postage and packing). Discounts at 10% apply to purchases of 20 or over, and 20% for 50 or over. ISBN 978 0 9569844 1 8
View the press release and more information on how to purchase the publication
