European Architectural Heritage Year - Trust Annual Report 1973
"The world is squandering its resources at an unprecedented rate. Some of these assets are natural, like the minerals below ground. Some are man-made, like the great works of art we have inherited from the past. All are irreplaceable. Once lost they can never be recovered, never be repeated.
Paintings, sculpture, the craftsmen's objects—these we put into museums. But what of the historical monuments, the buildings, the towns and villages? All over Europe the supreme heritage of western man is being eroded and destroyed, through neglect, demolition and redevelopment. This precious legacy of culture and beauty was built up slowly, lovingly, over many centuries. We have a duty ro preserve what is left of it for the benefit of future generations and its obliteration must not be accepted as the inevitable price of progress. But time is running out. Only a concerted effort by the European peoples as a whole can bring about the change of heart, the re-ordering of priorities, that will ensure the action necessary to preserve this precious legacy. That is what the Council of Europe had in mind when they designated 1975 as European Architectural Heritage Year."
Thus begins a circular addressed to all Amenity Societies registered with the Civic Trust. Central and local government, Professions and business interests, will also be playing a major part in the programme.
Local Authorities have been sent a questionaire to find out what conservation work they already have in hand. A splendid opportunity is presented, not merely to undertake some kind of project, but to do so in with the co-operation of the local authority. Coinciding with the re-organisation of local government this could also be a means of establishing a fruitful new relationship with the new District Councils. It is hoped to bring into being a considerable number of local Historic Buildings Trusts. Which will be able, by use of the "revolving fund" technique, to acquire buildings, restore them so that the proceeds may be ploughed back into future restoration. It is further hoped to set up a national revolving fund upon which local Trusts can draw. New thought will be given to the many technical, legislative and financial problems involved in conservation, with a view to formulating specific proposals and programmes, and this will tie in with an important series of European seminars to be held over the next three years. The County Planning Officer has invited members of amenity societies in Hampshire to attend a meeting when proposals of how we might be able to make the fullest use of a revolving fund will be discussed.
Extract from Hansard. 11th April, 1973. House of Lord's. Historic Towns and Villages.
Lord KENNET. "... I have been speculating about what we shall call Lord Rippon when he comes to the end of an honourable term of service in the House of Commons and joins us here. It will be a personal pleasure to us to welcome Lord Rippon of Bassenthwaite, Lord Rippon of Winchester or Lord Rippon of the London Green Belt ..."
Lord CHORLEY. "One cannot help wondering how much real help the Government are giving to the 1975 Architectural Heritage Year. I appreciated very much the jibe—it was a very proper jibe—as to what the title of the Secretary of State for the Environment would be when he came to your Lordship's House. But in between his present position and his coming here I would recommend him to read a famous old English book in which there is a character called Mr. Facing-Both-Ways. He might consider a little the character of Mr. Facing-Both-Ways, and then wonder how he can reconcile how he can take a prominent position in connection with the European 1975 Architectural Year and what he has been doing in Winchester, as Lord Kennet suggested ..."