Some of you readers may know I live near Northampton, site (in 1460) of a major battle in the Wars of the Roses. I wrote about it a few years back Northampton Battlefield after I had the privilege of walking it with Richard Brooks.
The site is under threat. It's next to a golf course and is in prime position to do things like plough it up, build a sports pavilion and so on.
Northampton Borough Council have drawn up a Conservation Management Plan ("CMP") which you can see here. This describes the site and what needs to be done to protect it. If it is adopted and taken seriously then the site will be better protected, and the amenities to enable it to be visited will be improved sensitively.
Most importantly no one will be able to do anything to the site without a battlefield archaeologist looking at it first and doing the appropriate work.
This is doubly important at Northampton as there's probably a late medieval artillery field park somewhere under the site, and there's a history of not really caring very much about it.
The CMP is now under consultation. It is important that the Borough Council (not known for being all that interested in anything historical that isn't to do with shoes) understand that people care. The number of people responding to the consultation is something they will pay attention to.
The consultation is available here. It takes less than 10 minutes to do. The consultation period expires on 27th March. ie Really Soon. So:
Post script: When you complete the survey, please mention that this is still a registered battlefield and any archaeology done should not be used as an excuse to develop the site. There is still a real threat that it will be developed afterwards!!
The site is under threat. It's next to a golf course and is in prime position to do things like plough it up, build a sports pavilion and so on.
Northampton Borough Council have drawn up a Conservation Management Plan ("CMP") which you can see here. This describes the site and what needs to be done to protect it. If it is adopted and taken seriously then the site will be better protected, and the amenities to enable it to be visited will be improved sensitively.
Most importantly no one will be able to do anything to the site without a battlefield archaeologist looking at it first and doing the appropriate work.
This is doubly important at Northampton as there's probably a late medieval artillery field park somewhere under the site, and there's a history of not really caring very much about it.
The CMP is now under consultation. It is important that the Borough Council (not known for being all that interested in anything historical that isn't to do with shoes) understand that people care. The number of people responding to the consultation is something they will pay attention to.
The consultation is available here. It takes less than 10 minutes to do. The consultation period expires on 27th March. ie Really Soon. So:
- DO IT NOW.
- DO IT TODAY.
That is all.
Post script: When you complete the survey, please mention that this is still a registered battlefield and any archaeology done should not be used as an excuse to develop the site. There is still a real threat that it will be developed afterwards!!
Thanks for posting this, Treb ... the more people respond the more NBC will be convinced that people care about their history ...
ReplyDeleteDone. Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteGuys, I really envy you. At least you have a proper planning procedure, well organised and transparent. Very close to Madrid we have the Jarama valley battlefield with some wonderful remants of the fortifications build post 1937 suffering from the lack of any public protection form of the site, despite the efforts undertaken with the local politicians of many non-profits operating in the area
ReplyDeleteAnibal, - be aware that this may look like a proper process but unless there's real backing behind it the council will dig it up anyway.
DeleteThe reason we're able to have this process is because of the battle fought over Naseby. It was hard work for battlefields to be taken seriously in this country, and we still don't do it as well as the Americans.
Done, good luck
ReplyDeleteDone...
ReplyDeleteGuys, - thanks for taking part. If you haven't yet, please note the PS on the blog for something I forgot first time round.
ReplyDeleteDone. Hope you have more success than we do locally with an authority (Trafford) only interested in gong through the motions. Sorry - hobby horse now back in cupboard!
ReplyDeleteGet your hobby horse out and ride it around.We fear the "going through the motions" here.
DeleteWell, I've whacked a quick note on my blog. See if that prompts anyone else.
DeleteDone,
ReplyDeleteI've done it too. Have you put it up on TMP?
ReplyDeleteDone
ReplyDeleteWill do that, Legatus Hedlius ... good idea ...
ReplyDeletePhil
Just did the survey, the boxes to add your views is a nice touch and I made good use of some of them
ReplyDeleteIan
Thank you very much for taking the time to help us out.
Delete