21st January 2006, 10:47 AM
Ouch ..... B)
However... jobs will be lost, even if the private secor then comes in and does them (so I could agree that the net loss/gain is evened out)
But I want stats... facts and figures...
If heritage is not at the heart of planning, landscape and countryside, enviroment etc at both local, unitary and national political levels.... Then pretty soon the Private sector will not have any archaeology to dig.
One head of a council Planning Dept (who asked to remain nameless) told me that to save money.. the staff levels would be cut by 65% and watching briefs would be used as a condition... though if things were found... it was unlikely that they would present a 'material' problem in the construction process... as economic development would outway archaeology as a consideration.
Take away the resources at council level and soon the contractor will not have the work ... ??
Another day another WSI?
However... jobs will be lost, even if the private secor then comes in and does them (so I could agree that the net loss/gain is evened out)
But I want stats... facts and figures...
If heritage is not at the heart of planning, landscape and countryside, enviroment etc at both local, unitary and national political levels.... Then pretty soon the Private sector will not have any archaeology to dig.
One head of a council Planning Dept (who asked to remain nameless) told me that to save money.. the staff levels would be cut by 65% and watching briefs would be used as a condition... though if things were found... it was unlikely that they would present a 'material' problem in the construction process... as economic development would outway archaeology as a consideration.
Take away the resources at council level and soon the contractor will not have the work ... ??
Another day another WSI?