BSAC and the Heritage Protection Bill - update
BSAC is currently representing the voice of divers in the development of two key pieces of legislation – the Heritage Protection Bill and the Marine Bill.
Our Underwater Heritage Advisor, Jane Maddocks, provides an update on the latest developments:
At the moment there are two major pieces of legislation being prepared to become law in England and Wales, the Marine Bill from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Heritage Protection Bill from the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
Currently both Bills have been drafted and we've been given the chance to look at what the Bills are covering, and of making a second response now we see the detail. BSAC responded to both during the formal consultation period last year - this is now an extra opportunity to put our points across. The Scottish Ministers have announced their own Marine Bill which includes heritage matters and BSAC have been representing your interests there as well.
Marine Bill
There have been meetings at high level involving BSAC, including giving evidence to a Joint Parliamentary Committee and an invitation to meet the Minister for Marine Affairs, with other water users, to talk about what we see as important in the implementation of conservation areas.
The Heritage Protection Bill
The idea of this Bill was to make planning and protection decisions consistent in both terrestrial and marine contexts. The Bill is not threatening. It takes the place of what used to be the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, dealing with historic wreck. The major difference is that a wider range of sites can be protected, including ancient submerged landscapes, fish traps and other important structures.
The licencing system is to be made easier to follow, consultation must take place before designation or removal from designation, and there is a new category of designation of ‘suitable for unintrusive diving’. This new category shows that the Government does believe we can behave responsibly.
Some people are concerned that one of the clauses mentions competence. We are very aware of the difficulties surrounding competence. We have spoken to English Heritage, who will be awarding licences in England about competence and the recreational diver. They are very open to discussion, and have asked us if we would like to meet to discuss this, with the other agencies, on a regular basis. We have accepted the offer! We would like to develop this contact with EH’s equivalent in Wales and will be taking that contact further.
We already have an excellent working relationship with the Senior Inspector in Scotland, and plans for involving the recreational diver are going ahead.
Jane Maddocks, BSAC Underwater Heritage Adviser.
Page last modified: 23rd Jun 2008 - 11:08:58