A few days ago I submitted a post to say I had emailed my MP (cc: Dept of Culture, Media and Sport) asking about the accountability of English Heritage, specifically with regard to the management of their budget for the Silbury conservation project. Here is her reply which I reproduce in full.

Quote:
Thank you for your email of 1 January about the English Heritage work at Silbury Hill. I was most concerned to learn that the websites you have visited question the accountability of English Heritage and the conservation work being undertaken at Silbury. I am not sure from your email what in particular is the problem, apart from the need to be fully accountable to the general public. I am not familiar with English Heritage's charter, but presume they have a board to whom they are accountable. The accountability the organisation therefore has to the general public is not necessarily complete disclosure of every decision they take.

Before I make enquiries on behalf of constituents, I like to be as fully aware of the issues as possible. This is so I can ask specific questions of the organisations I am contacting, as my experience is that a general letter receives unspecific answers and is often unsatifactory for the constituent. I have had a look through the English Heritage website and was impressed with the amount of information about the excavations of Silbury Hill. There are 26 regular updates of the work, three videos (although there is some repetition in these) as well as a comprehensive five part description of the history of the hill and the current archaeological work. I found the third video very helpful in giving a picture of the work being undertaken by the contractors and English Heritage's reaction to it. There are other sections on the site, such as frequently asked questions and an email address for members of the public to ask their questions.

On viweing the site for the first time, my response was that it is a very open website giving a great deal of information to the public. I am therefore at a loss to know what else English Heritage should be supplying. Perhaps you could let me have the addresses of the archaeological websites so that I can read the comments? I have tried to find them via Google but had no success.

I look forward to hearing from you

With best wishes

Yours sincerely

Anne Snelgrove MP
Labour MP for South Swindon
End Quote

She has clearly done some homework which I respect and would like to comply with her request in the last paragraph and send her the website addresses of both Heritage Action and TMA. Do I need to obtain permission from Nigel Swift and TMA Eds before I do this. Perhaps you could advise me on any protocol that should be followed.

june (tjj)