Heritage Reforms Must Be Fully Funded

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 8th Mar 2007

Commenting on the long awaited publication of the Heritage White Paper today, Liberal Democrat Heritage Spokesman Paul Holmes MP said:

"I welcome the proposed introduction of a public consultation, an appeals process and increased local authority responsibility to improve heritage protection. DCMS must fight their corner and not allow the Barker Review of planning to undermine these aims.

"However, does the Government really think that cash strapped local authorities, nearly half of which don't even have a dedicated heritage officer, will be able to deliver the protection that our heritage requires?

"English Heritage's grant in aid has already fallen by £9.7 million in real terms since 2000. How can it be expected to undertake the leadership role demanded in these proposals with such a drastically reduced budget?

"Tessa Jowell must commit to fully funding these reforms in her comprehensive spending review bid, otherwise our nation's heritage could be permanently damaged by Gordon Brown's scrimping cuts.

"The Government must not drag their feet over these reforms as they have over the removal of the A303 from the vicinity of Stonehenge. DCMS have shown little commitment to heritage in the past, I hope that this announcement heralds a renewed interest in our critically important historic assets."