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Rescue respond to threat to Wansdyke

Posted on May 8, 2013
Rescue have submitted an official response to Bath and NE Somerset Council’s proposed changes to their core strategy, which proposes the construction of 300 houses at Odd Down, in very close proximity to the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Western Wansdyke. Land will be removed from the Green Belt by the Placemaking Plan in the location shown on the Key Diagram in order to provide for development of around 300 dwellings, small scale local employment opportunities and associated infrastructure during the Plan…
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Testing Times: fighting culture’s corner in an age of austerity

Posted on April 26, 2013
RESCUE – The British Archaeological Trust welcomes Maria Miller’s public support for the nation’s cultural sector as expressed in her speech at the British Museum on 24th April and in particular her acknowledgement that the heritage and cultural sectors both play an important contributory role in the national economy. The Minister draws attention to the use of the slogan Heritage is GREAT by Visit Britain; however, Rescue has highlighted particular areas where heritage is greatly underfunded in Britain. Please see our full press release below,…
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Rescue AGM 2013: The archive storage crisis

Posted on March 6, 2013
Saturday 27th April 2013, 1.00PM at the Surrey History Centre, Woking followed by 2.00pm : The archaeological archives storage crisis by Gail Boyle, chair of the Society of Museum Archaeologists Admission free: all welcome There are vacancies for ordinary members of Council and if you would like to offer yourself for nomination please contact the Membership Secretary or any of the Council members on the list below before the meeting. For further details of travel to the venue, please click here.   Trouble in store:…
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Help us monitor heritage cuts

Posted on February 28, 2013
With an unprecedented level of threat to local authority museum and archaeological services currently being felt up and down the country, Rescue needs your help to continue monitoring cuts to heritage services and its impact. Our cuts map is being continually updated, and you can report threats directly online. rescue.crowdmap.com We have also revised our document Fighting Back which gives you real pointers on how you can campaign against local cuts. Please feel free to download, and distribute to those…
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Rescue respond to news of proposed cuts in Southampton

Posted on November 16, 2012
Rescue have been concerned to read recent press reports suggesting that Southampton Council has taken the decision to close its archaeology unit, Southampton Archaeology. Southampton Archaeology is one of the longest established units in the country, and has unparalleled expertise in the archaeology of the area, as well as an ongoing committment to outreach and promotion of the city’s heritage. Rescue have written to the Chief Executive of the Council to express this concern, and his highlighted that the proposed…
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Diggers’ Forum report on Away Work and Travel

Posted on June 26, 2012
In 2011, the IfA’s Diggers’ Form conducted extensive surveys into the current conditions facing diggers with regard to away work, travel and subsistence payments. This was  published in 2012 and is of interest to all in the sector. The Diggers’ Forum website notes: The report is over 100 pages long and contains two key sets of recommendations, intended to bring much needed clarity to the advertisement of archaeological jobs, and to improve the terms and conditions for employees who travel…
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Concerns over HMS Victory 1744 wreck

Posted on June 10, 2012
The Joint Nautical  Archaeology Policy Committee have recently raised concern over the recent gifting to, and ongoing management of HMS Victory 1744 by Maritime Heritage Foundation (MHF). The wreck was donated by the Ministry of Defence to MHF in January 2012. The briefing document, below, concludes that It is most important that the future of this iconic example of theUK’s underwater cultural heritage is managed in a responsible and transparent manner which gives confidence to the world that the UK Government…
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Rescue Publish Fighting Back

Posted on March 14, 2012
Update: We have now revised Fighting Back to refer to the new NPPF. With an unprecedented level of threat to local authority museum and archaeological services currently being felt up and down the country, there has never been a greater need for clear guidelines, assisting those campaigning to protect and preserve local and regional heritage services. It is with this in mind that Rescue have published Fighting Back - Some suggestions as to how to campaign to save museums, archaeological services and…
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Closure of Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit

Posted on February 8, 2012
RESCUE is extremely concerned to learn of the decision by Manchester University to close the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit (GMAU), as detailed in the statement below. The Unit plays a central and critical role in providing advice to local planning authorities and is responsible for maintaining the Historic Environment Record for Greater Manchester. These roles are fundamental to any system of heritage protection and the decision by the University authorities can only be judged to be irresponsible, coming as it…
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Ministry of Justice statement on the exhumation of human remains for archaeological purposes

Posted on February 7, 2012
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have recently issued a statement on the exhumation of human remains for archaeological purposes. This follows an apparent change in interpretation of the 1857 Burial Act in 2008, requiring the eventual reburial of all human remains, of all periods, no matter what their value to scientific research and the advancement of archaeological knowledge. A new set of guidance notes is promised by this latest statement, which will hopefully clarify the situation. Also encouraging is the MoJ’s conclusion that a…
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Rescue concerned over City of Adelaide’s future

Posted on February 7, 2012
Time is fast running out to save historic clipper ship The City of Adelaide from deconstruction. The Scottish Government’s ‘preferred bidder, Australian group, Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Limited (CSCoAL), is seemingly unable to demonstrate that it can provide the ship with a sustainable future, but  HS and the SMM appear to be giving every assistance to CSCoAL to remove the ship by a deadline in March 2012. It seems incredible that this historic ship, of recognised national and international historic…
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Trouble in Store: facing up to the archives crisis

Posted on January 23, 2012
FAME (The Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers), the SMA (Society of Museum Archaeologists) and ALGAO (Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers) have recently released a statement of intent, concerning the ongoing and rapidly escalating crisis in the deposition of and access to archaeological archives. RESCUE has been aware of this problem for many years and has consistently sought to draw attention to it by highlighting specific cases and by raising the issue with central government. Our full response can be read…
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Rescue respond to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Posted on October 11, 2011
RESCUE believes that the current planning system is confusing, cumbersome and in places, contradictory. In principle, we welcome the Government’s stated intention to simplify the system and to make it more accessible to both developers and the general public alike. However, RESCUE does not believe that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF), as drafted, provides a suitable alternative. In redrafting and slimming down the existing documentation, the Government has created a proposed planning system which offers very little regulation to…
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Concerns for archaeological provision in Sandwell, West Midlands

Posted on September 23, 2011
RESCUE has learned that Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is planning to axe the posts of Borough Archaeologist and the HER Officer. This will leave the Borough without any provision for archaeological monitoring of planning applications and no Sites and Monuments Record. Archaeology is, it seems, considered a ‘luxury’. Details can be found on the Council website Please take time to e-mail the Council members responsible with your arguments for the retention of the two posts and if you have friends,…
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NPPF – have Scotland got the heritage protection system right?

Posted on September 7, 2011
Two planning documents of significance to archaeologists have recently been published. In England, the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was released on the 25th July. This promises “A new, simpler framework for the planning system that safeguards the environment while meeting the need for sustainable growth”, and slims down over 1000 pages of cumbersome planning legislation and guidance brought in by previous Governments, into a single document only 52 pages long. The Historic Environment gets 3 of these pages,…
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Rescue publish Fighting Back

Posted on July 31, 2011
With an unprecedented level of threat to local authority museum and archaeological services currently being felt up and down the country, there has never been a greater need for clear guidelines, assisting those campaigning to protect and preserve local and regional heritage services. It is with this in mind that Rescue have published Fighting Back - Some suggestions as to how to campaign to save museums, archaeological services and the historic environment. Please feel free to download, and distribute to those who…
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Rescue remain concerned over long-term funding plan for arts and heritage

Posted on July 5, 2011
“Former Conservative minister Michael Portillo is to chair a scheme to help arts and heritage organisations build long-term funding. A new £55m Endowment Fund will award public grants to match funds raised from private donations. The fund is being set up with money from the Lottery and the Arts Council, as part of a wider government scheme to encourage philanthropy.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14009139 RESCUE says:  While we welcome new funding for the arts and cutural sectors, the question that must be asked is how…
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Rescue respond to comments from Fenland District Council leader

Posted on June 24, 2011
RESCUE was extremely concerned to read the comments recently made by Cllr. Alan Melton, the Leader of Fenland District Council. In a speech on the 21st June at the 4th Annual Cambs Times/Wisbech Standard/Fenland Council Building and Design Awards Final, Cllr Melton apparently sought to call time on the requirement for archaeological investagation at the pre-application stage of the planning process, and what he called the “stupid” practice of archaeological investigation of a site following evaluation. Archaeology, he stated, will…
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Rescue respond to IfA's Southport Group Draft Report

Posted on June 9, 2011
The Institute for Archaeologists have recently released “a ground-breaking draft report that outlines recommendations and products for improving historic environment practice to ensure delivery of consistent excellence in public benefit.” This report, written by the Southport Group, drawn from across the sector aims to consider “key areas of planning-led investigation of the historic environment, identifies obstacles to optimum delivery in the past, presents a vision for new ways of working under PPS5 principles, and makes detailed practical recommendations to reach that vision.” See www.archaeologists.net/southport…
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Government's response to the Select Committee Report on Funding of Arts and Heritage

Posted on June 7, 2011
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently issued a response to the conclusions and recommendations of a Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on funding of the arts and heritage. They stated that “the DCMS remains wholly committed to the arts and heritage, especially during dificult economic circumstances”. www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Govtreponse_ArtsHeritagefunding-CM8071.pdf However, in response to the committee’s comment that: We are concerned that the heritage sector has already suffered disproportionately and is ill placed to sustain further reductions in funding. We also note…
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