As heritage champion for Harrow I have the job of promoting and preserving our borough's wealth of conservation areas and historic sites.
I therefore think it is my duty to alert people interested in Harrow's history that proposed laws to strengthen the hand of councils in safeguarding local heritage have apparently been shelved by the Government.
Environmentalists had hoped a measure called the Heritage Bill would be included in the recent Queen's Speech.
However, it failed to make an appearance and there seems little prospect of this bill getting parliamentary time in the near future.
This is a great pity because local authorities need all the help they can get in ring fencing historic areas from inappropriate development.
In Harrow, we have many conservation areas for which we are in the process of writing planning policies in order to do all we can locally to protect them from inappropriate developments.
Many organisations interested in preserving our heritage are disappointed that this bill has apparently stalled.
It represents legislation that is keenly needed to protect the historic fabric of the nation.
Economic times may be hard and the Queen's Speech was largely given over to measures to fight the downturn.
However, protection of our history and heritage makes good business sense too. After all, people come to live in Harrow or visit here precisely because of our name as a historic and leafy borough.
COUNCILLOR MARILYN ASHTON
Harrow Council portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise
Via email
