Volunteer listed building inspectors

[Keith Bowman]

Apparently 'they' are planning to recruit an army of volunteers to inspect all Grade II listed buildings and report on their condition. Am I the only one to be a bit concerned at the thought of some unqualified, probably inexperienced, stranger demanding to poke around inside my home? And possibly even taking notes for his friend with the mask, stripey shirt, jemmy and swag-bag? :shock:

 

[LadyArowana]

Maybe they just intend it to be an exterior inspection. I can imagine there would be a lot of issues as regards criminal records checks and indemnity insurance for any internal review.

 

[GRADE_II_MONEYPIT]

I dont see this as a bad thing (due to levels of vandalism aka unauthorised and unsympathetic alterations to listed buildings)

Too many local Listed houses with Upvc windows, satelite dishes etc without LBC

Even an amatuer will be able to spot these!

 

[Keith Bowman]

I dont see this as a bad thing (due to levels of vandalism aka unauthorised and unsympathetic alterations to listed buildings)

Too many local Listed houses with Upvc windows, satelite dishes etc without LBC

Even an amatuer will be able to spot these!

Only if they are visible from a public road or path, which would exclude a great many houses and nearly all rear elevations, especially out in the countryside, which presupposes the volunteers would expect some sort of right of entry onto private land or the exercise becomes pointless.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

If it's anything like the pilot projects that have already been run, it will be from public places only. But even that's better than nothing.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Although I can see some disadvantages it does not seem too bad an idea. I wonder what guidance will be given to the volunteers---. Looking at and commenting on listed buildings is something I have done over the years as we visit places. Wouldn't mind being involved-- how does one go about it?

 

[MatthewC]

I dont see this as a bad thing (due to levels of vandalism aka unauthorised and unsympathetic alterations to listed buildings)

Too many local Listed houses with Upvc windows, satelite dishes etc without LBC

Even an amatuer will be able to spot these!

Only if they are visible from a public road or path, which would exclude a great many houses and nearly all rear elevations, especially out in the countryside, which presupposes the volunteers would expect some sort of right of entry onto private land or the exercise becomes pointless.

Around here people don't care if it is right beside the pavement on a busy road in a conservation area - they just fit uPVC anyway and no-one cares.

 

[Ebenezer]

Although I can see some disadvantages it does not seem too bad an idea. I wonder what guidance will be given to the volunteers---. Looking at and commenting on listed buildings is something I have done over the years as we visit places. Wouldn't mind being involved-- how does one go about it?

Contact English heritage customer services. More info here: (sorry May take you to a mobile site?)

http://m.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/eh-mobilise-volunteer-heritage-army/

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Something of the sort was, of course, a plot device in the gritty and hyper-realistic drama Midsomer Murders...
http://midsomermurders.org/housewoods2.htm

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Thanks Ebenezer, the link worked!
Yes, Gareth, I can do ghosts too--- :!:

 

[mivec]

I read an article in the local paper about this. The impression it gave was the inspection was very basic.

Does the building still exist?
Is it about to fall down?
Move on to the next one.

It mentioned an inspector will be doing up to 13 inspections a day so I assume most of his time will be spent travelling between and trying to find the buildings.

The whole thing seems to be exercise in making sure everything that should be on the 'in danger' list is.
During the pilot the issues were mainly with the odd things like listed walls, gate posts, monuments, signpoats etc. rather than domestic or public buildings.