Memorandum submitted by The Theatres Trust
The Theatres Trust welcomes the opportunity
to comment on the Committee Inquiry. Our submission focuses on
theatre heritage, and our evidence and recommendations are provided
in this context.
The Theatres Trust is an advisory non-Departmental
Public Body and a statutory consultee on planning applications
that affect land on which there is a theatre, and was established
by the Theatres Trust Act in 1976 "to promote better protection
of theatres". Our 15 Trustees are appointed by the Secretary
of State for Culture, Media and Sport, though our remit covers
the whole of the UK. The Trust's main objective is to safeguard
theatre use, or the potential for such use, through direct engagement
and advisory work in the fields of theatre and culture, planning,
regeneration, architecture, and heritage.
Heritage is therefore one of our key areas of
concern. Our submission identifies the remit and valuable role
that The Theatres Trust plays in protecting the nation's theatre
heritage, and the heritage benefit of the collection of theatre
plans and materials managed and published by the Trust. We ask
the Committee to acknowledge the role of The Theatres Trust and
help us to enhance and strengthen our work in the heritage field,
thus enabling us to harness fully heritage legislation to protect
the UK's theatres.
The Theatres Trust would be pleased to provide
oral evidence to the Select Committee.
SUMMARY OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Theatres Trust regards it as important
to see a greater recognition of the heritage value of theatres
to the nation in the Heritage White Paper as buildings of special
architectural or historical interest and as centres of cultural
heritage.
2. We would welcome recognition in the Heritage
White Paper of that part of The Theatres Trust's remit which relates
to heritage and our effectiveness, as the expert body on theatre
buildings in the UK.
3. The Trust has been working with ODPM
to produce a good practice guide as part of Planning Policy Statement
6 (PPS6). We recommend that there should be a specific statement
of policy and clear guidance on the importance of protecting theatres
within the forthcoming Planning Policy Statement 15 (PPS15).
4. The Heritage White Paper should recognise
that historic theatres are a cultural asset. It should ensure
that there is adequate protection for locally listed theatre buildings
in and outside conservation areas, that The Trust should be consulted
on applications for conservation area consent and where theatres
may be being demolished outside conservation areas.
5. There should be adequate funding available
to English Heritage to implement the White Paper and the HLF's
role in protecting West End theatres should be acknowledged and
resources identified. As the expert on historic theatre buildings
within the UK we would like the White Paper to acknowledge the
Theatres Trust's role and identify additional funds to enable
the Trust to consolidate its work in this area.
6. The Theatres Trust believes that it is
essential to develop its role as a consultee on heritage matters,
in particular Conservation Plans and Management Plans. As a statutory
body we would welcome formal recognition as a statutory consultee
on Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area Consent applications.
7. The Theatres Trust is in a position to
take a lead role on developing benchmarks for conservation practice
with regard to theatres, and so support professional development
within the conservation sector. The Theatres Trust is also able
to advise planning officers, councillors and the general public
on specialist theatre conservation professionals. We would like
the White Paper to endorse plans for the development of a conservation
role for The Theatres Trust to add value to proposals contained
within "Review of Heritage Protection: The Way Forward".
19 January 2006
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