Sec of State - speech re heritage stuff...

[Nemesis]

From Heritage Link today:

Secretary of State's first heritage address

'Heritage does count. It is a really important force to make lives better' declared James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport speaking for the first time to a heritage audience at the launch of Heritage Counts 2007 on 31st October (below). 'I want to work across Government… to make clear the connections between the built environment and the wider Government agenda'.

Excellent statements of course but much that he said has been said before. Yet with the draft Heritage Bill imminent, perhaps his speech indicates a new level of political interest: more emphasis on intrinsic value 'buildings are the art in which we live and … they should be valued as such'. Also new elements about heritage and national identity ' the built environment – past, contemporary and future – is the geography of life…It defines our identity. It's the common reference point for community'. He wants to see more heritage-led regeneration too - 'to arrive at a point where the choice is not between old and new but heritage informing the present and future'.

Definitely a good read at http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Minister_Speeches/James_Purnell/heritage_counts.htm With a new Secretary of State, such warm words and a Heritage Bill to come, the future looks more optimistic than it has for some time.

Cynical? Moi?

 

[biffvernon]

Give him his due, there are a lot of fine words in Purnell's speech

 

[Nemesis]

Do they butter the parsnips though?