Scottish Canals has released its Draft Heritage Strategy and is seeking feedback with responses due by January 14 2013.
Steve Dunlop?, CEO, Scottish Canals writes:
Together, the five historic waterways we look after are one of Scotland’s most significant national collections.
We want your help to shape the future of our historic places, inspire the next generation and celebrate our cultural legacy by taking part in this consultation on Scottish Canals Heritage Strategy.
We want your help to shape the future of our historic places, inspire the next generation and celebrate our cultural legacy by taking part in this consultation on Scottish Canals Heritage Strategy.
Together, the five historic waterways we look after are one of Scotland’s most significant national collections. It has been 70 years since they all came into public ownership and 10 years since the Millennium Link opened. We feel that now is the right time to take stock, consider what still needs to be done and how we should do it.
Whilst Scottish Canals has many functions, caring for these historic assets is fundamental to all of them. Managing them sustainably will allow all of us to derive many more benefits in the years to come. We want people to value the canals as cultural heritage that enriches their lives. To realise this vision we need to make sure that this message underpins all our aspirations. To make a real difference we need to encourage participation and form lasting partnerships.
As well as having significant group value, the Forth & Clyde, Monkland, Crinan, Caledonian and Union Canals have unique, independent histories which span 200 to 250 years. Over 40% of our estate is protected as nationally important scheduled monuments, 100 buildings and structures are listed and we share the same lowland corridor as the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. Our canals are also designated for their natural heritage and scenic value and support several protected species. Today, this rich cultural environment creates a multitude of settings which contribute to an individual’s sense of place and quality of life. Enhancing the special qualities of our heritage therefore has a significant part to play in place-making.
This strategy will cover all types of cultural heritage associated with Scottish Canals. As well as engineering structures, buildings and natural heritage, our estate includes archaeological sites, historical documents and artefacts. We also wish to safeguard and promote cultural heritage that is not physical, including traditions, craft skills, language, literature, knowledge and associations with past events and people.
How can you help?
In this draft strategy we have set out our 25-year vision and long-term aims for Scotland’s canal heritage and a set of guiding principles. Following a full review and taking a fresh look at what benefits positive heritage management can bring, we have proposed a series of objectives which will form our priorities for the next 5 years.
As a valued stakeholder, I invite you to take part in this consultation and help us develop an inspiring Heritage Strategy to sustain Scotland’s canals well into the future.
Scottish Feedback here: LINK
Related Article: LINK
