06 Aug 2023
St Albans council is taking a ‘serious look’ at a new strategy aimed at protecting the nation’s precious heritage.
The Heritage Alliance, England’s coalition of 200 heritage organisations, has published a new manifesto demonstrating how heritage provides solutions to a range of public policy challenges and setting out a vision for the sector under the next term of government.
It is calling on all political parties to put the past at the heart of their plans for the future, and includes proposals to invest in and empower councils and communities to protect and make the most of their local heritage.
This would involve support for targeted regeneration schemes, removing permitted development on demolition, incentivising reuse of historic buildings, and embedding culture-led regeneration and community ownership in future housing and community strategies.
SADC leader Cllr Chris White said: “It seems to have a lot going for it so we are looking at it seriously.”
Professor Tim Boatswain, president of St Albans Civic Society, said more needs to be done locally to promote our heritage: “St Albans, benefitting from its geographical position as a gateway to London, has a marvellous heritage.
“This manifesto is a timely reminder that conservation of our Roman, Mediaeval, and more recently built environment should be a top policy for the district council as it develops its Local Plan.
“The promotion of its heritage assets should be a major driver for the enjoyment of both its citizens as well as its visitor economy. Not only do we need to conserve our heritage but also promote it – I think it is fair to say from the data that St Albans still doesn’t perform, in terms of the number of visitors, as well as some comparable historic cities in Britain, so there is work to do in conserving and promoting St Albans’ heritage.”
But St Albans BID, the organisation responsible for promoting our city and highlighting everything it has to offer, which includes its heritage attractions, said it isn’t so easy making comparisons with other historic cities.
A spokesperson said: “We do not have access to data that should give us a comparison for visits to other historic cities. Comparisons are not straight forward, and many unique locality circumstances would apply.”
However, its recent footfall report shows that visitor numbers are increasing year on year with May footfall up by 103 per cent.
The BID’s promotional work includes creating and distributing the annual visitor guide as well as social media, PR and TV, radio and print advertising – all of which heavily promote heritage attractions including the Cathedral, Museum + Gallery and Roman history.
The BID also seed-funded the Blue Plaque scheme – which saw the ninth plaque installed last month – and has a seat at the table of the newly formed CHAPS (St Albans Conservation and Heritage Advisory Panel) group which has a direct remit to protect and preserve local heritage.
The spokesperson added: “The BID remains focused on its delivery to support city centre businesses which includes promoting our heritage sites. Whilst there is always more that can be done, the SAVP unites key partners to ensure we continue to raise awareness of St Albans to local, national and international audiences as a must-visit UK city.”
