This issue of CONTEXT contains predominantly features on conservation practice in Scotland, following in the series of 'regional' issues produced by local ACO groups spotlighting current issues in their area. Graham Reed has been responsible for compiling and coordinating all the Scottish copy and the issue was produced, with the Sassenach input, by the Editor, Jenny Pearce. The next issue will be produced entirely by North Region, to coincide with the Annual Conference in Durham in April. EDITORIAL GrahamReed I sympathise with Jon James' comments at the beginning of his Editorial in the last issue of 'Context'. When Chris Smith asked me to undertake the compilation of a Scottish issue of the journal, neither of us could foresee (luckily) the difficulties there would be. Nevertheless we did it and here it is, the first 'Context' from north of the border. I have tried to include articles covering as wide a variety as possible of subject matter, some of which may be of direct relevance to those of you working in England and Wales, and others which, although of specific Scottish interest, may give Sassenachs an insight into the particular problems and benefits of being a Conservation Officer in Scotland. I hope you find something of interest within these pages. The compilation of this issue is also my last act as Scottish Regional Officer of the A.C.O. A move of job in August from West Lothian District Council to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Directorate ( the Scottish equivalent of English Heritage) has meant that I am no longer able to carry on in my former capacity. Indeed the assembling of this issue of 'Context' was at one point proving difficult. However, Andrew Millar of Clydesdale District Council came to my rescue and I take this opportunity to thank him for his help and advice, and particularly for his enthusiasm. The production of this issue has latterly been very much a joint effort. * * * Although the concept of conservation is well established in many authorities in Scotland (a fact which will become clear as you read the journal) there is still considerable room for improvement. I believe consequently that the A.C.O. has an important role to play here in promoting the need for and benefits of good conservation practice. It is unfortunate that membership of the Association, as in Wales, has always been low. There may be good reasons for this; the area over which the membership is spread has made it virtually impossible to hold regular meetings or offer practical support; and physical distinctions between various parts of the country mean that the needs of a Conservation Officer in the Western Isles are very different from those of his colleagues in a large city in the Central Belt or a small market town in the North-East. Nevertheless I feel strongly that the A.C.O. should continue in Scotland and hope that those of you reading this issue who work in Scotland and are not members will consider joining and giving the Association the support and strength it needs to thrive. Finally I am sure Chris Smith would be only too pleased to hear from any existing Scottish A.C.O. member who 'volunteers' to step into my Regional Officer's shoes. ltlI1111111111111111111 IHIII1I111il1ll1lll 111l1tt1lIII111111111111111111111111111111 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII111111111111111111111111111 Public Awareness and Conservation Andrew Millar Planner, Clydesdale District Council In several parts of Scotland, there may now be a conservation ethic, in which there is a public awareness of the value of conservation measures and arising from this, a collective responsibility towards townscape. This most obviously applies to the New Town of Edinburgh but could be applied to such gems of Scottish burgh architecture as Haddington or St. Andrews. It is my contention, based on the experience of living and working in several areas of Scotland, that there is still a distinct lack of awareness within many, probably most of Scotland's 540 odd Conservation Areas. Similarly that other cornerstone of conservation, listing, is also fraught with perceptual problems; not only regarding knowledge of listing, but in terms of the implications of listing or the standards which should be adopted. The purpose of this article is to outline the programme undertaken by one District Council in attempting to overcome or reduce this communications gap. The basic theme, therefore, is the development of coherent and systematic information bases and the dissemination of information leading to greater public awareness, initially of listing or conservation area status, and in the longer term, of the standards required. The programme of work has taken approximately 3 years and was undertaken by myself and Alistair Hackston, collectively known as the Environment Section. The district, Clydesdale, is 500 square miles of mainly sparsely populated' countryside (population 57,000) within an hour's drive of both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The District contains over 700 listed buildings but as most of the l-ist derives from the 1955-57 survey, this should not be taken as comprehensive. Only 9 conservation areas have been designated, with 4 as recently as 1982; and with Article 4 Directions having been sought and granted as recently as 1985, close control is a relatively new phenomenon for the Authority and for owners of non-listed buildings. 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