C O N T E X T 1 3 3 : M A R C H 2 0 1 4 3 ‘THE CONSULTATION response to the proposals to merge Cadw and the Royal Commission was mixed and having carefully considered these views, in addition to the evidence and analysis undertaken by my officials, I have decided that both organisations will remain separate for the time being.’ John Griffiths, minister for culture and sport, on theWelsh Government’s decision not to merge the two heritage bodies. ‘WHILE I have read Sartre, I struggled a little with the existentialist nature of this. ‘However, after contemplation with a cold towel on my head, I am satisfied that not being in general conformity with something that does not exist is not a test relevant to this examination.’ The official examiner of the Tattenhall Neighbourhood Plan commenting on the absence of an adopted local plan. ‘IF A PURCHASER fails to do anything with the building within, say, two or three years, or fails to find a sensitive, sympathetic solution for it, then they should be required to return the property to the public body that originally owned it or, at least, have it transferred to a charitable body which has the experience, talent and means to do something with it. ‘There can be no doubt that the introduction of a set period of time in which to maintain or restore a building can be a key element in making the most of what is left of our heritage. ‘I suspect it must be many years ago now that I first began to see the madness of abandoning perfectly sound buildings – very sound buildings, if the Victorians had built them – simply because the original use for them had run its course.’ The Prince ofWales speaking at the English Heritage centenary dinner. ‘THE DEAL will put to rest any doubt whatsoever over Preston Bus Station. The building’s future will be 100 per cent guaranteed. In fact, the county council will be able to invest in the building to improve the facilities for the thousands of people that use it every day. We have always wanted a bus station fit platform for peer-to-peer learning, allowing projects from all over the UK to communicate with each other and attract support from volunteers and potential donors. The programme will cover nine learning topic areas, from governance and creative options development, to project promotion and fundraising. In its first year BRICK will also include a mediation pilot, led by partner Locality, which will help unlock heritage projects where communities are working in partnership with private sector development partners. Labour of love One of Scotland’s most familiar buildings is to reopen to the public. Gretna’s First House, which is being refurbished after lying dormant for several years, will begin trading as a coffee shop for visitors in the summer. The First House gained its name in 1830 after a new road from England to Scotland bypassed Gretna village and passed over the River Sark right next to the house. Runaways using the new road and bridge would stop off here to be married. Gretna’s blacksmith shop, just a few yards up the road, had already been marrying runaway couples since 1754 after a new law restricting marriage for under 21-year-olds in England came into force. The former toll bar cottage at Gretna has seen more than 10,000 marriages. White lead paints The Environment Agency is running a compliance campaign to raise awareness of restrictions on the use of paints containing lead carbonates and lead sulphates. Paints containing these substances can only be used for the restoration and maintenance of historic buildings (Grade I and II*); scheduled monuments; or fine or decorative works of art – where it is required to restore or maintain historic textures or finishes. Before you use these paints, you or your supplier must send information to the relevant competent body (this will vary depending on which country the paint is to be used in). The full text of the UK regulations is available at www. legislation.gov.uk. for the 21st century. The transfer will take us towards that goal. ‘This, I know, will be very much welcomed by the people of Preston. So too will the fact that the city council will no longer have to find the money to run the building which, given the savage budget cuts imposed on Preston, was a significant financial strain for the city council. Lancashire County Council simply has the scale, expertise and resources to manage such a large building. ‘I have always understood people’s passion for Preston Bus Station and can see why many people want to keep it. Our past decision to demolish was purely a financial one. As a city council, we couldn’t afford to either invest or indeed keep the building open.’ Councillor Peter Rankin, leader of Preston City Council, commenting on the news that ownership of the Grade II listed Preston bus station is to pass to Lancashire County Council. ‘PERHAPS we have to accept that the debate between architects and urban design will never be settled: buildings themselves as “things” are always more seductive than the spaces between them, which are more about relationships. ‘It’s easier to sell a beautiful object than to create a beautiful relationship, but it’s the beautiful relationship that usually lasts longer.’ Tim Hagyard writing in Urban Design. ‘THE CANTILEVER and the landmark will exist in different planes of urban experience.’ Preservation consultant Bill Higgins commenting approvingly on the decision of the NewYork Landmarks Preservation Commission to issue a certificate of appropriateness for a planned 1,400-foot tower to cantilever over the individually landmarked American Fine Arts Society building in Manhattan. ‘WHEN architectural preservationists meet at the tedious conferences and grim councils of despair that feed oxygen to their nihilistic and unventilated “heritage” world-view, the word
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