CELG(4) HIS 53

Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee

Inquiry into the Welsh Government’s Historic Environment Policy

Response from Friends of the Newport Ship

Friends of the Newport Ship

                                                      Registered Charity No 1105449

                                                                                                                                          ____________ 

30 June 2012

Dear Sir/Madam

INQUIRY INTO THE WELSH GOVERNMENT'S HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT POLICY

You have invited comments on the Minister's intention to merge the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales with Cadw.  Our organisation is a charity concerned with the internationally-important 15^th century ship that was discovered in the City of Newport 10 years ago.  Our initial objective was to save this unique and impressive ship, but we now work to support its conservation, re-assembly and public display.  We also have an educational role in relation to the ship and maritime heritage more generally, and we support research into the ship.

We are not in a position to comment on the pros and cons of merging the activities of the two organisations in respect of historic buildings and the historic landscape.  However, we are concerned about the impact on the maritime heritage of Wales.  Wales has a fantastic maritime heritage which is under-valued and, so far as tourism and education are concerned, under-exploited.  Whilst the Royal Commission's brief does cover our maritime heritage,  Cadw currently has virtually no involvement with it.  Accordingly, we feel there is a real risk that maritime heritage will get pushed to the sidelines if this merger, with its associated cost-cutting, goes ahead.  We urge the Minister to ensure that this does not happen.  Given the importance of maritime heritage to Wales, the proportion of available funds spent on it should be increasing, not decreasing.

Yours faithfully

P Hayward