IHBC Chair James Caird will be at the top table, with Vice Chair Kathy Davies among the IHBC officers also attending the next All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies meeting, on 8 May, looking at how communities can play a greater role in managing their local conservation area and with the social media handle #myconservationareamatters.
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Civic Voice, as secretariat to the APPG, writes:
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies will host a meeting in Parliament on May 8th 2018. The event is themed around the future of conservation areas and how communities can play a greater role in effective heritage protection.
The meeting will hear from Civic Voice Vice-president Laura Sandys and the Arts, Heritage and Tourism Minister, Michael Ellis MP, as they discuss how communities can have a part to play when it comes to protecting heritage. The meeting aims to allow MPs and members of the public a chance to discuss ways in which communities can manage the increasing need to protect the nation’s heritage.
Craig Mackinlay MP, chair of the APPG for Civic Societies said, ‘I am delighted to announce the next event for APPG for Civic Societies event of this Parliamentary session will focus on the future of conservation. With at least 512 conservation areas at risk, we will be publishing a report looking at the Future of Conservation Areas. The event is being timed to coincide with the closing of the draft NPPF consultation.’
Speakers:
- James Caird, Chair, IHBC
- Victoria Thomson, Head of Planning, Historic England
- Laura Sandys, Vice-President, Civic Voice
- Michael Ellis MP, Heritage Minister (TBC)
- Craig Mackinlay MP, Chair of APPG for Civic Societies
Laura Sandys, Vice President Civic Voice, writes:
I am pleased to say that today, we are announcing the next APPG for Civic Societies meeting taking place on May 8th. The majority of places for this event are being reserved for Civic Voice members as we unite together to say #myconservationareamatters
The announcement of this event ties in with the launch of a new consultation by Historic England. We are asking all civic societies to respond to this. We believe that communities can play a much greater role in managing their local conservation area. Groups such as the Deal Society and Conservation Areas Wirral are already leading the way. The guidance can be accessed here.
This revised guidance sets out ways to manage change in a way that conserves and enhances historic areas through conservation area designation, appraisal and management. Let us know your thoughts on this new guidance via info@civicvoice.org.uk.
We believe that the figure of 512 conservation areas designated to be at risk to be somewhat higher in reality. This is what led us to start piloting our Civic Voice Conservation Area Audit. Although not developed to determine if a conservation area is at risk, by using a standard approach, and with some training, we believe we can develop an alternative audit capable of identifying the issues and providing real examples of the factor putting areas at risk. More importantly, it can identify how we, as communities can help manage change in these areas. We will be launching this tool at the APPG for Civic Societies meeting alongside a new report called ‘The Future of Conservation Areas’ and a new Big Conservation Conversation website.
All groups who have donated to the campaign will be credited in the final publication.
If you believe in what Civic Voice is trying to do, please do join us as an individual today.
