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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Cuts at Southampton Museums

Posted on May 16, 2011

The Museums Association website recently reported that the City Council plans to tender for an external commercial company to run a number of it’s Museums. “Southampton City Council has put the management of its City Art Gallery, Tudor House Museum, and the new Sea City Museum, due to open in 2012, out to tender.” www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/10052011-private-firms-bid-for-contract-to-run-southamptons-museums Rescue Says: Both the Sea City project and Tudor House restoration are HLF funded and one of the terms of the HLF’s contribution, is that…

Upcoming seminar: Of Process and Practice: Exploring developer funded archaeology and London’s more recent past, 1800 to the present day

Posted on April 19, 2011

Joint seminar of the Society of Post-Medieval Archaeology and IfA London. Monday 6th of June 2011, 10am – 4.45pm At the Wilberforce Theatre, Museum of London Docklands West India Quay, London E14 4AL How does PPS5 change the way we view the archaeology of the last 200 years? London is largely a 19th and 20th-century city, yet until comparatively recently, the below-ground archaeology of the last two hundred years was dismissed as ‘modern disturbance’, and its built heritage viewed as…

Rescue write to John Whittingdale, MP

Posted on April 19, 2011

Rescue have recently written to John Whittingdale to acknowledge comments he made in support of the heritage sector in the third report of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

Rescue responds to curatorial cuts at Museum of London

Posted on April 19, 2011

Mary Beard, in her Times blog, first reported news of cuts at the Museum of London, on 25th February. Since that time, details have emerged on a number of intended cuts including redundancies across senior curatorial staff. The latest details indicate that the following reductions have occurred: The following posts have become redundant: 1. Senior Curator (Prehistory) 2. Senior Curator (Roman) A proposed post of combined Senior Curator (Prehistoric and Roman) has NOT been filled. 3. Senior Curator (Photographs) 4. Senior Curator…

RESCUE AGM

Posted on February 20, 2011

The RESCUE Annual General meeting for 2010 will take place on Saturday 2 April 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking Surrey GU21 6ND. There are vacancies for ordinary Council Members, and if you are interested in joining RESCUE Council contact the Membership Secretary or any of the Council members before 12th March to put forward a nomination. The AGM will be followed by an Open Forum for members to discuss with the Council…

Leicester City Council reverse decision to close museums

Posted on February 11, 2011

It has been announced that Leicester City Council have reversed their decision to close the city’s Jewry Wall Museum, Belgrave Hall, Abbey Pumping Station and The Guildhall. A campaign, mounted by , amongst others, Leicester Civic Society, has also caused the council to rethink its proposal to charge non-city entrants for admission to the museums. Rescue however remain concerned that such announcements only offer a temporary reprieve for such service, which, with no statutory status, are subject to further threat…

Rescue write to Kenneth Clarke concerning human remains and archaeology

Posted on February 7, 2011

Rescue have recently written to The Right Honourable Kenneth Clarke Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, over recent changes to conditions on licenses granted under the Burial Act of 1857 and the Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act of 1981. These changes have made rapid reburial a key requirement of such licenses, which have placed limitations on the timescales available for effective archaeological analysis of many assemblages. Under the Burial Acts 1857 and 1981 it is an offence in England and…

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