1st May 2010, 06:02 PM
Greetings to all. Again, I`m with Kevin on this one. I`ve banged on about regulation for years and in the absence of a viable body to whom I would envisage as an accountable entity capable of adequate policing, the government is all we have. Don`t get me wrong...I`m certainly not a fan of British Government but I am a firm believer in working in a country that takes pride and responsibility in its shared heritage. Just about anyone caring to extoll the virtues of Britain as a nation leans heavily upon the "tradition" and the long and sceptred history of our fair Isles (however one cares to interpret that) in any marketing regime or political diatribe. A bit rich methinks when as a nation, we throw our built and buried environment to the wolves of competitive tendering in an un-regulated free for all environment. Before you explode into the old chestnut " It`s better than the old Rescue days....".....I agree. But, and it`s a big "but"........is it not time that we evolved? What on earth is wrong with a nationalised heritage? A system where finite (and world class) heritage assets are enshrined in statute law, heritage becomes a core subject in an holistic educational curriculum, archaeology ( above and below ground) is preserved in situ and incorporated into new builds, grey publications are reborn as dynamic documents delivered to schools, colleges and universities, museums are treated as national treasures and archaeology becomes enshrined as a profession with obligations to the tax-paying public. Back on thread........ The IFA would continue to drive professional and ethical standards, monitor and police RAO`s and themselves would be answerable to their own regulators. All above board, accountable, modern, progressive and dynamic. Curators would actually have teeth!:face-approve: