Conservation Officer Post To Be Cut

Eminent architect Sir Donald Install criticises council's move

There has been widespread condemnation of council plans to abolish the Conservation Officer post as part of its budget cuts.

The proposal was put forward by officers at its meeting on Tuesday 10 July, and is to move forward to the next stage of consultation with the trade unions.

Historic England, the national heritage body, has expressed serious disappointment saying conservation officers are qualified heritage professionals who have developed expertise in their area of work.

Many issues require specialist local knowledge and resourcing and Historic England reject the council’s suggestion that such issues could be delegated to generic planning officers.

Ealing Council’s proposal was also criticised by Sir Donald Insall, the eminent conservation
architect, who said that it would be a very great shame for so distinguished a London Borough
to lose the specialist awareness and abilities which an in-team qualified Conservation Officer
appointment so beneficially makes available.

Sir Donald Install

He said that while the financial constraints which increasingly embarrass our Local Authorities are well appreciated, there are very real economic advantages too in maintaining and enhancing high environmental and architectural standards.

Robert Gurd, Chairman of Ealing Civic Society, said that it was very disappointing that the
Council sets so little store by its heritage and that the Society’s fight to overturn the decision
would continue.

He said, "Ealing should cherish its heritage, not regard it as a hindrance which gets in the way of building new homes. Instead, any regeneration should be heritageled, building on the best of what is there already rather than sweeping away existing buildings or structures which could be refurbished or re-purposed for modern uses.” He added: “We were very surprised that Cabinet did not take seriously the warnings of Historic England and of other distinguished experts in their field of the consequences of their decision to abolish the Conservation Officer post. We will be mounting a campaign to encourage local and national conservation bodies to lobby the Council to see the error of its ways so that the decision can be reversed."

An Ealing Council spokesman said : “We’re currently consulting with staff on a proposed restructure across our regeneration and housing directorate. The outcome of the consultation will inform final decisions. In relation to planning, the proposed restructure focuses on creating a more efficient team by moving away from specialist functions in planning to one where all planners have the skills and knowledge to assess applications and create policies.

“Ealing’s planning staff have heritage and design training and the necessary skills needed to assess the majority of applications from conservation areas or that relate to heritage matters. Where specialist heritage advice is needed, the applicant will be required to meet the costs of procuring independent consultancy advice. As required by planning legislation and policy, we will continue to consider heritage matters in all planning applications in conservation areas and for changes to listed and locally listed buildings. Where required, we’ll continue to consult Historic England, particularly on major changes to listed buildings.”

July 18th 2018