C O N T E X T 1 3 9 : M A Y 2 0 1 5 37 References 1 www.helm.org.uk/ guidance-library/ sixth-report-LA-resources 2 www. historictownsforum.org/ files/documents/free_ download_publications/ Conservation_ area_management/ Conservation%20 Area%20Management. pdf 3 www.english-heritage. org.uk/publications/ understanding-placeconservation-area 4 www.aylesburyvaledc. gov.uk/environment/ conservation-listedbuildings/aylesbury-valedistrict-wide-strategy/ 5 https://www.sutton.gov. uk/downloads/file/1821/ management_plan 6Webber, J (2013) ‘A peaceful path to pro forma? The potential of open-source design and heritage guidance’, Town and Country Planning,Vol 82, No 4 7 http://www.oxford.gov. uk/PageRender/decP/ CharacterAppraisal Toolkit.htm Far left: Cleaning a sculpture Christ ChurchWar Memorial,Watford, after cleaning Lottery Fund (HLF) schemes arguably cover the gap. Unlocking funds from the HLF and other external sources has involved a certain amount of repackaging projects, but the benefits of a wider community focus to works are tangible.With one HLF project in the town centre, the events programme generally sold out and a new website, signage and leaflets were well received. The animated short film that was produced, ‘Nest of Stone’, has defied some initial cynicism and gone on to be featured at various events, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Delivering community-focused additions to enhancement schemes has been significantly helped by staff and volunteers at the town’s museum. Their specialist knowledge has added value in much the same way as colleagues in the council’s transport section have been able to help with some of the engineering aspects of other works. Such activity has also helped with wider council objectives by providing part of the evidence base for Green Flag applications in associated open spaces. As a non-unitary borough council, getting agreement on continuing highway management matters required working with Hertfordshire County Council. While getting agreement on approaches to topics such as street lighting or road markings was relatively straightforward, the management plan is not an end in itself and continuing communication is required to ensure that the approaches are adhered to. Some worthy proposals have proved more successful than others. Agreeing a specification for replacing lamp columns has worked well, as have de-cluttering projects. However, introducing ‘conservation-grade’ double yellow lines has only proved practical where an entire road is being resurfaced, as removing existing no waiting markings is expensive – both financially and environmentally. Adding ‘conservation area’ signage at entrance points was considered to be problematic, as it would create additional clutter. The more elegant solution of including that information on a band below existing street name plates has worked, but only where a conservation area boundary neatly fits with a street junction and where the name plate is adaptable. In terms of street clutter removal, the easiest items to get rid of have proved to be ‘at any time’ signs, which are generally no longer legally required. The hardest items to remove are sections of guardrailing, as these require safety audits. From experience, highway engineers outside of the larger cities appear to be particularly cautious about removing guardrailing, irrespective of how flawed its configuration is. Helpful guidance on this wider topic is provided by the Streets for All case studies, which were previously widely distributed, and theManual for Streets series, for which frustratingly there is a fee for the latest version. Advocating a more proactive approach across the full spectrum of spatial planning is hardly a revolutionary position and in some senses represents a return to past practices. Investment in better conservation area management facilitates better spatial planning by providing clarity upfront for property owners, through planning briefs and clearer guidance, while augmenting existing development pressures towards a trajectory that maximises the potential of heritage assets. At the simplest level, the work in Watford has helped to raise the profile of the conservation areas and raise awareness of longstanding restrictions. Nevertheless, without adequate resources, proactive conservation area management is unlikely to be viable. It is hardly a coincidence that the two local authorities in Hertfordshire with the lowest number of listed buildings (and listed building consent applications) are also the only two with a full set of conservation area management plans. However, the development of conservation area management plans can help to demonstrate the value of in-house resources by showing that staff can lever in external funding and be agents for sustainable change. Although so often bogged down with the regulatory framework, conservation officers can demonstrate through conservation area management their role as interdisciplinary facilitators, adding value across the full spectrum of planning functions, from enforcement to highways. Making a credible case for investment is certainly possible. After all, we do have the weight of history on our side. Justin Webber is senior planner (design and conservation) at Watford Borough Council.
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