Cllr Alan Melton Leader of the Council Fenland District Council Fenland Hall County Road March PE15

8NQ

24th June 2011

Dear Cllr. Melton, I am writing to you as Chairman of RESCUE The British Archaeological Trust. RESCUE is a non-political organisation which exists to support archaeology and archaeologists in Britain and abroad. We receive no support from government and are entirely dependent on the contributions of our members to fund our work. Details of our activities can be found on our website: www.rescue-archaeology.org.uk. We were concerned to read recent reports which have indicated that you are proposing radical changes to the approach to heritage conservation within the Fenland District, apparently including removal of pre-application requirements for archaeological evaluation and restricting the extent of archaeological recording regardless of the significance of the affected deposits. You are quoted as having suggested that these requirements are stupid. We are sure that you are aware that the East Anglian fens have a very particular and important history, much of which can only be learned by careful examination of the archaeological evidence. In many cases highly significant sites are unknown until exposed and potentially destroyed by development. Just looking at footings trenches, as suggested in your speech, will tell us that a site has been crucially damaged but will not recover real knowledge about the people who lived there in the past. The importance of this knowledge in shaping how we as a society continue to evolve and progress is widely recognised, and its value is embraced both by the public, and by the legislative powers. The requirement for archaeological survey, excavation and protection measures is a central principle of national planning policy enshrined in Planning Policy Statement 5, Planning For The Historic Environment which itself is the national expression of the UK Governments commitment to the principles set out in the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, to which the UK is a signatory. The UK is bound by European law to maintain these policies and principles, and this is reflected in recent drafts of the forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework, where the requirements for archaeological prospection, protection and investigation are maintained. We are pleased to note that Fenland District Council contains similar policies within its own local plan. You will no doubt be aware that uncertainty is most unwelcome to developers. To advocate a system with selective and subjective imposition of its principles and policies

would be very open to legal challenge, for example by local campaigners or the many national groups that monitor the planning process, and would benefit no-one. Please could you let us know therefore, precisely how you are proposing to alter your councils current policies and practice on development control in relation to the heritage, and how the new practices will comply with European Law, the national guidance set out in Planning Policy Statement 5, and the Fenland District Council Local Plan policies. I look forward to your response. Yours sincerely

Diana. Friendship-Taylor (Mrs.) Chairman RESCUE The British Archaeological Trust

CC: Sandra Claxton Chief Executive, FDC Derrick McKenzie Head of Development Services, FDC