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Descheduling of ancient monuments in Scotland
Heritage Action is currently seeking clarification from Historic Scotland on the proposed changes to the Register of Scheduled Monuments in Scotland. The results of our efforts will appear on this website.
The Scottish Executive's aim is to allow the register to be updated to form an accurate record of sites of national importance. Historic Scotland says this means that some of the monuments currently on the register will be descheduled. We want to help make sure that if this happens, it happens in an open and fair way that avoids any valuable sites being lost.
Our views
Heritage Action accepts there may be a practical need for the proposed changes. And admittedly, some sites currently on the register have dubious provenance or significance. Presumably these are likely to be the sites descheduled. But the changes must be implemented in the spirit of the consultation document and with the utmost caution.
We believe that a number of points from the document are actually encouraging:
- The recognition of the interconnected nature of some monuments and their surroundings
- That the national importance of most kinds of monument will be related to its regional context
- The recognition of the importance of cultural significance as defined in the Burra Charter — its "aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present of future generations".
The Burra Charter was developed by Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and acts as an update to the International ICOSMOS Charter setting worldwide standards for conservation of ancient sites
Heritage Action would like to see these strands brought together and to be open to the scheduling of currently unscheduled monuments as well as the descheduling of some existing entries on the register.
Public involvement
We believe that as soon as they are known, the names of sites affected by the proposed revisions to the register should be made accessible to interested parties such as local archaeology groups and societies. The internet should be central to this.
Heritage Action urges Historic Scotland and the Scottish Executive to encourage and aid information exchange between local groups and RCAHMS (the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland who survey and keep the records of sites). This would be particularly valuable in making use of grassroots local knowledge — speeding up the process of accurately updating the register.
Direct public involvement also reduces the administrative and resource burden on bodies such as HS and RCAHMS. It provides willing, knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers to assist in the identification, recording and protection of heritage sites.
Such interaction also serves to enhance public education in the significance of heritage, as it imparts a greater sense of the relevance of heritage. It also has the benefit of increasing transparency and regional input into the process.
The National Committee on carved Stones in Scotland admirably illustrates that when the public are encouraged to participate in interaction with government heritage bodies, the results are both cost effective and help raise awareness of heritage.
Our concerns
If there is anything but wholesale adoption of the spirit of the consultation document and an open decision making process, many may view the changes as a possible avenue for inappropriate development or destruction of heritage sites in Scotland.
This is especially so in the light of a rather disconcerting statement in the consultation document. We have highlighted the words that particularly disturb us in italics:
"It could be argued that some monuments at present on the Schedule are not of sufficient importance to merit the very strong presumption against development that scheduled status now provides."
As stated, we recognise that some monuments may not merit scheduled status, but we are concerned that Historic Scotland interprets scheduling as merely a strong presumption against development. We believe it should be a powerful protection against inappropriate development.
In conclusion
It is our opinion that the proposed changes offer an important opportunity for the Scottish Executive to work in partnership with those they represent. Every effort should be made to work co-operatively and openly, rather than allow accusatory and confrontational discord to grow from misunderstandings arising from ‘behind the scenes’ decision making.
We have asked for reassurance that any changes will be implemented in an open and publicly transparent fashion, allowing and encouraging direct public involvement, as implied in the consultation document they have published.
Watch this space!
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