Memorandum submitted by BALPPA
BALPPA, as the leading trade association representing
the interests of owners, managers, suppliers and developers in
the UK's commercial piers, leisure parks, zoos and static attractions
sector, is delighted to have the opportunity to feed into the
Culture, Media and Sports Committee inquiry into Protecting, preserving
and making accessible our nation's heritage.
BALPPA is seeking for the privately operated
tourism attractions operating across the UK to be more involved
in discussions, consultations and recommendations taken by the
DCMS as well as other tourism and heritage organisations on the
future of the UK's heritage.
In particular, BALPPA members have an interest
in the sustainable preservation of seaside piers, a key feature
of Britain's coastal heritage, as our members own and operate
some of the most famous including those situated at Blackpool,
Brighton and Clacton.
We welcome the opportunity to communicate our
messages through the Committee's consultation and have attached
a briefing that outlines BALPPA's position in more detail. BALPPA
would be very willing to present our case to the Committee through
oral evidence.
INTRODUCTION
1. BALPPA is the leading trade association
representing the interests of owners, managers, suppliers and
developers in the UK's commercial piers, leisure parks, static
attractions and zoos sector. We speak for some 300 members and
include leading UK attractions such as Blackpool Pleasure Beach,
Alton Towers, British Airways London Eye, Butlins, Colchester
Zoo, Madame Tussauds, Thorpe Park and Woburn Safari Park among
our members.
2. Although the BALPPA membership cover
a wide range of leisure attraction sectors, our interest in this
inquiry predominantly stems from those BALPPA members who own,
maintain and operate seaside piers including those at Blackpool,
Llandudno and Clacton, as well as members who operate historic
venues like Warwick Castle. This particular sector of BALPPA has
much expertise in ensuring the longevity of some of the UK's oldest
and most significant heritage attractions.
3. BALPPA believes this to be a very important
inquiry, investigating ways to continue the preservation of UK
heritage and we outline our key thoughts in more detail below.
In summary BALPPA seeks:
— A level playing field for all heritage
sites and projects, where all are able to get involved in consultations
and discussions relating to heritage issues as well as being eligible
to bid for heritage and tourism funding that is currently only
available to publicly owned or non profit making heritage sites.
— Seaside piers to be made exempt from
the payment of business rates that are currently inhibiting the
possible preservation and future sustainability of such an important
feature of the UK coastline.
DCMS PRIORITIES FOR
THE HERITAGE
WHITE PAPER
4. BALPPA would like to see the Heritage
White Paper recognise the important and sometimes forgotten role
of the private sector in preserving the UK's heritage. The private
sector currently operates quite separately from trusts, charities
and other organisations that work for heritage preservation, including
English Heritage and the DCMS. To be fully involved in assisting
the decision making process would be a very positive step for
adding the knowledge that BALPPA members and others in the private
sector have to the general pot, as well as allowing private sites
to benefit from the knowledge and experience of others engaged
in heritage preservation.
5. In particular BALPPA, along with colleagues
at the National Piers Society, works hard to promote and maintain
the piers of the Victorian Era that are scattered around the UK's
historic coastline, located in some our most famous seaside towns
and cities. We would like the DCMS and others to take a particular
look at the work that can be done to assist those businesses,
trusts, charities and other organisations that are working hard
to maintain these structures in a good condition despite the adverse
conditions put upon them by amongst other things harsh British
weather conditions and exposure to the sea. Piers require constant
attention and BALPPA would welcome any assistance that government
and other organisation can provide.
REMIT AND
EFFECTIVENESS OF
DCMS, ENGLISH HERITAGE
AND OTHER
RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS
IN REPRESENTING
HERITAGE INTERESTS
INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT
6. BALPPA has concerns that private operators
like our members are not always fully recognised as playing such
an important role in preserving the nation's heritage. We do not
feel fully informed, consulted or supported by the DCMS, English
Heritage and other relevant organisations when discussing the
UK's heritage interests. We would welcome any opportunity to remedy
this situation and view the Heritage White Paper and this committee
inquiry as an opportunity to communicate our desire to progress
our engagement with important heritage organisations.
FUNDING
7. BALPPA is particularly concerned by the
unlevel playing field that currently exists regarding opportunities
to seek additional financial support from heritage and tourism
sources to aid in the upkeep of buildings and structures of importance
to the UK's national heritage. Currently, privately owned heritage
sites are not entitled to receive funding or grants that are enjoyed
by publicly owned and non profit making sites. Such funding and/or
grants can come from organisations like the English Heritage,
the Heritage Lottery fund, local authorities, charities and other
non-Governmental organisations that have a key role in helping
to maintain the nation's heritage. BALPPA would welcome a change
to this situation to allow privately owned heritage sites to be
eligible to bid for heritage funding and ultimately be awarded
grants or funds to help them in their heritage work.
8. As mentioned earlier in the paper, BALPPA's
focus with regard to heritage concerns the preservation of piers.
These are very difficult structures to maintain for reasons already
described and require a lot of time and dedication to prevent
erosion and break-up into the sea. Their up-keep would benefit
from an exemption from business rates, which would free up many
funds to help sustain the long-term future of both the seaside
piers and the seaside economy.
ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANISATIONS IN
MAINTAINING THE
NATION'S
HERITAGE
9. BALPPA and its members take their role
and responsibility for maintaining parts of the nation's heritage
very seriously. We also understand the importance of other specialised
organisations and charities eg the National Piers Society, as
well as the key heritage organisations and we have already demonstrated
our desire to have the opportunity for constructive engagement
with such organisations.
PROFESSIONALS WITH
CONSERVATION SKILLS
10. BALPPA understands and acknowledges
the importance of professionals with the skills and experience
required to make a substantial difference to the preservation
and conservation of the UK's heritage. As we have previously stated,
we are willing to engage more with professional conservationists
to discuss and learn more about their issues and concerns, as
well as their suggested solutions.
19 January 2006
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