Ask your local candidates about archaeology and the historic environment

RESCUE is a member of the Heritage Alliance, an umbrella body representing over one hundred heritage organisations with a combined membership of over 6.3 million people (http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/). As part of the election campaign, the Heritage Alliance has drafted a letter, available on their website (http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/take-action) which can be sent to local candidates to focus their attention on the historic environment. RESCUE endorses this letter and hopes that all members and supporters will use it to raise the profile of archaeology and the historic environment with local candidates as the election approaches. Needless to say, the draft can be amended to include issues of local and regional importance which can be overlooked by bodies engaged in campaigning at a national level.

The political parties are keen to engage voters on ground of their own choosing and on subjects for which they have ready-made answers. This is a once-in-five-year opportunity to insist that your prospective representatives engage with issues outside their ‘comfort zones’ and address questions that affect heritage and the historic environment.

Members of the RESCUE committee work hard to engage with politicians (local and national) on matters related to archaeology and the wider historic environment but there is no substitute for a pile of letters from voters accumulating on a politician’s desk in which they demand answers to questions which the candidates might rather avoid. Please write or e-mail your candidates and raise the profile of heritage issues at this critical time.

Reuben Thorpe

Chairman
RESCUE – The British Archaeological Trust

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