4th December 2007, 01:19 PM
Vulpes,
I don't think we are in basic disagreement about the need for curators - they are essential, and from my perspective as an EIA consultant they often help me to do my job more effectively (althought that doesn't mean that I always agreee with them).
However, I have been an EIA consultant now for 14 years, in two different companies, and worked for a lot of clients on a lot of different types of job. I have also recently carried out academic research into the effectiveness of EIA in archaeology, and I certainly did identify problems in that area. However, I would not conclude either on the basis of my personal work experience or on the basis of my research that EIA is useless in the absence of a curator.
I still have to take issue with something else you have said:
One thing I am not clear about - in the specific case in Northants that has been under discussion, was there an EIA?
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
I don't think we are in basic disagreement about the need for curators - they are essential, and from my perspective as an EIA consultant they often help me to do my job more effectively (althought that doesn't mean that I always agreee with them).
However, I have been an EIA consultant now for 14 years, in two different companies, and worked for a lot of clients on a lot of different types of job. I have also recently carried out academic research into the effectiveness of EIA in archaeology, and I certainly did identify problems in that area. However, I would not conclude either on the basis of my personal work experience or on the basis of my research that EIA is useless in the absence of a curator.
I still have to take issue with something else you have said:
Quote:quote:there is no reason why EIA cannot and should not be seen as an opportunity to boost the baseline by doing some fieldworkThe results of EIA often does enhance the SMR, and it often does include evaluation fieldwork. However, it should never be seen as an 'opportunity' in that sense - the fieldwork can only be justified if it is necessary to provide information needed for the EIA. Otherwise you are obliging the developer to pay for 'research' that is irrelevant to the impact his project may cause.
One thing I am not clear about - in the specific case in Northants that has been under discussion, was there an EIA?
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished