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Money is the key to heritage
When the chips are down as they currently are in Britain every facet of our society comes under the microscope.
Bankers, revered 12 months ago for making us all more wealthy, are now reviled at every turn.
Politicians basking in the reflected glory of a growing economy and low interest and inflation rates suddenly became villains of the piece, hoist by their own petard with a recession they never saw coming and expenses claims they hoped would never become public knowledge.
Now English Heritage has weighed in with a damning report on the architectural state of nation.
In the past this noble group has busied itself drawing attention to key old buildings and monuments that were in danger of being lost for ever.
This year it has expanded its brief to look at conservation areas including densely populated urbanisation.
The findings are not encouraging at all, although it will come as no surprise to discover the likes of satellite dishes and uPVC double glazing have been fingered for taking their toll on the overall character of places like, as mentioned in this report, Elland and Todmorden. It is a familiar story across the land.
Having said that, given the option of lock-tight plastic or draughty single glazed wooden windows and doors only the most hardy or foolhardy would plump for the latter.
People are under intense pressure to make their homes green and will do that as cheaply as possible. So it is hard to see how the white plastic revolution can be halted.
The question of old buildings is an altogether different argument. Our heritage and our future are inextricably linked and the world would be a poorer place without the cultural markers of the past. There would also be nothing against which to mark progress.
The words modernisation and profitability are anathama to many traditionalists. But in the case of say Somerset House in Halifax the former has meant a renaissance for the Georgian building and the latter, when various businesses are up and running, will ensure its future.
As with anything in this life money is the key. Old buildings need it throwing at them and a heck of a lot more than the 15,000 a year budgeted for by the council.
Until that happens the least appealing will slowly crumble.
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
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Light snow
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