Adrian Stott wrote: > "Neil Arlidge" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> It is indeed the historic arifacts that are at risk! >> BW waterways managers have a 4 year "asset disposal" program that >> must include a LOT of historic buildings within that >> portfolio...perhaps Eugene can elaborate on this for us? > > If BW sells a historic building, all that happens is that the building > gets a new owner. That is not the same a demolition! > > BW owns a lot of historic buildings. Historic buildings cost a lot to > maintain/operate. The money to do that must come from BW, i.e. it > gets spent on that rather than on running the waterways. > > If BW owns a historic building that it does not need (i.e. is not > required for the operation of the waterways), surely we are better off > if BW sells it? The buyer will want/need it, and BW will both be > relieved of the cost of maintaining it and get a capital sum from the > sale. > >> After all Robin Evans did say heritage was safe in BW's hands > > It sounds to me that that statement refers to buildings which remain > in BW's ownership. > > The heritage protection laws/rules covering the building don't change > if BW sells it. They apply to the new owner just the same. > > So, if BW is disposing of a lot of (unneeded) historic buildings, that > sounds to me like a good thing for the waterways.
Great...when BW sell them off "on the quiet", like the Tipton Guaging Station, by Factory Locks on the BCN, with out telling the new owners of its historic significance. There was also Albion Mills in Wolerhampton, an old FMC Wharf that had been sold out of BW's ownership, then subsequently demolished. It would appear that BW want to "dump" extraneous historic buildings, so they don't have to manage them, with little regard to what happens to them after they are sold. As you say there are heritage protection laws/rules but these are rather easily got round, especially when BW does not know?! / does not want to know about their historical significance. BWB have a long, nasty history of destroying historic buildings and artifacts. In the old days they used to be able to get away with just letting them decay, so they had to be demolished, now they have this new method of shifting the blame. Who is left in the beleaguered BW to manage Heritage? BW should be actively be monitoring the historic environment around their waterways, not just that left in their control. Adrian, perhaps you could scotch the rumour: Are you acting as a paid (or unpaid) consultant to BW? -- Neil Arlidge - NB Earnest - Shannon Reg 7410...not here anymore... Follow the truly independent TNC at : http://www.tuesdaynightclub.co.uk Visit this site and help save our waterways from the DEFRA cuts http://www.saveourwaterways.org.uk/
