Following the Comprehensive Spending Review announcement on 20 October, Alliance Chairman Loyd Grossman commented:
“Yesterday’s announcements show that government as a whole still doesn’t quite ‘get’ heritage. Our heritage is among our greatest national assets yet also fragile and irreplaceable. It is vital that central and local government supports the framework to deliver the social and economic benefits that heritage brings and through which our members - the non-government heritage organisations - can fulfil their potential in caring for our heritage now and to inspire future generations.
“We fear that the immediate and longer term impact of a 32% cut for English Heritage and reduced funding from Local Authorities combined with the wider economic climate will lead to irreversible deterioration and loss of our heritage, stacking up huge bills ahead and eroding public support.
“We will be working with government to mitigate the impacts through partnerships, supporting social action and community responsibility. The pressures on the non-government heritage bodies will escalate but there is huge public support for our heritage and our challenge now is to turn that passion into practical inventiveness and enterprise.”
For further information on the CSR and reactions from across the sector:
Secretary of State’s Written Statement 21 10 10 http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/ministers_speeches/7508.aspx
Departmental press notices 20 10 10 http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_pressnotices.pdf
DCMS: Secretary of State’s Written Statement 21 October 2010 www.culture.gov.uk/news/ministers_speeches/7508.aspx
English Heritage: Settlement Letter 21 October www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Andrews_-_english_heritage.pdf
English Heritage statement http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/eh-responds/Public-sector-cuts/
Churches Conservation Trust http://www.visitchurches.org.uk/news/csr/
National Heritage Memorial Fund http://search.hlf.org.uk/NHMFWeb/LatestNews/NHMF+statement+on+Government+Spending+Review.htm
Arts Council http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/arts-council-responds-296-cent-funding-cut/
Museums Association http://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/20102010-comprehensive-spending-review-museums
National Museums Directors’ conference (NMDC) http://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/news/?item=government-recognises-value-national-museums
Visit Britain http://www.visitbritain.org/mediaroom/pressreleases/csr20oct.aspx
Education cuts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11583990
Tags: 2010, Alliance, chairman, CSR, DCMS, heritage, Heritage Alliance, historic environment, Loyd Grossman, The Heritage Alliance