Protecting our historic environment

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Eve Trueman
Department of Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH

29th October 2003

Dear Ms Trueman

Protecting our historic environment: Making the system work better.

The Standing Conference on London Archaeology (SCOLA) was set up in 1992 to promote the practice, study and public awareness of archaeology in London. Membership is open to all those who share our aims, and currently includes consultants and contractors, archaeological societies, local authorities and individuals.

We are grateful for the opportunity of responding to this Review and commenting on the document published in July 2003. Attached are our answers to the questions posed in the document. We are associated with the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies, and with the Council for British Archaeology, and our comments take account of their views.

The consultation document does not deal properly with the archaeological resource that lies underneath the surface, which must be protected for future study; the White Paper that follows this consultation must remedy that defect. We must also emphasise the important contribution local archaeological and historical societies can make; they often have knowledge and experience beyond that of local authorities and even English Heritage.

Yours sincerely

 

Peter Pickering