Civic Voice has issued an update on the progress of its ‘Big Conservation Conversation’ on its website, highlighting some examples of good practice from communities and groups and urging the preparation of more Civic Conservation Audits.
Civic Voice writes:
Here at Civic Voice 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 and are just some of the groups featured on the new Big Conservation Conversation website.
In our view, looking after conservation areas is a responsibility shared by those of us who live, work or do business in them as well as those of us whose job it is to manage them or make decisions about their future. Yet 56% of people do not even realise that they live in a conservation area. Conservation Areas must be protected – they have an important role as we look to the future and development pressures increase. Conservation areas can help councils, civic groups and communities to preserve what’s really special about our towns, villages and cities for future generations to enjoy.
Civic Voice recognises that for the long-term future protection of conservation areas, we need more communities playing a role.?Our report released earlier this year stated that we believe that the figure of 512 conservation areas classed as being ‘at risk’ is somewhat higher in reality. This is what led us to start piloting our Civic Conservation Audit. Although not developed to determine if a Conservation Area is at risk (that assessment is undertaken by the local authority), by using a standard approach, and with some training, we believe communities can play a part and we can develop an alternative assessment of the issues affecting conservation areas and identify real examples that are putting areas at risk.
Our report shows that local authorities and community groups have the same ambitions for where they live and that together, they are both stronger. Over the course of the campaign we have heard about many examples from communities across England where communities have come together to celebrate their conservation areas, we would love to hear more!
View the Big Conservation Conversation
Download more information on the Civic Conservation Audit
IHBC NewsBlogs on the conservation conversation
