10th November 2011, 05:34 PM
Things are currently so bad in some areas of the country that there is not the infra structure within local council areas to make sure that due consideration is given to archaeology ( and other heritage and environmental issues) in the planning process. This is where concerned members of the public and local societies may have a very positive role by monitoring planning applications in their local areas and directly questioning and campaigning against the absence of archaeological conditions. Any concerned member of the public can do this. Local societies should not be a replacement for the curatorial services and should question their local councils where curatorial services are being cut. Any one who values their historic environment needs to be made aware of the disaster that we are currently walking into, but of course there are other far more damaging cuts heading our way than those to our heritage and with so many battles to fight on so many fronts archaeology may not be a priority for the concerned public. Viva la revolution}