9:58am Tuesday 23rd June 2009
By Corey Stephenson
SOUTHAMPTON’S historic Old Town has been recognised as one of the best looked after conservation areas in the country.
Attractions including the Bargate, City Walls and the Tudor House, which make up parts of the Old Town, are some of the best managed historical places in the UK, according to English Heritage.
Tour the Old Town Walls in 90 seconds
The city council was today being praised for its positive management of the conservation area and was handed one of eight awards given out to regional places of historical interest.
The area is now included in the English Heritage 2009 Heritage at Risk register, which lists the details of historic attractions across the UK where councils are looking to protect a unique character and appearance.
Following a survey of local authorities, the group has found nearly one in ten conservation areas in the South East are at risk of neglect, decay or damaging change.
After an appraisal of the three conservation areas that make up Southampton’s Old Town, the city council is now producing a management plan with English Heritage to further protect them.
Kevin White, the city council’s historic environment leader, said: “Southampton City Council is delighted to be partnering English Heritage in the Heritage at Risk 2009 project.
“The Old Town North Conservation Area is made up of the northernmost part of the medieval town, and contains not only important standing monuments such as the Bargate, but also evidence of the earlier medieval and Victorian street pattern and tenement plots.
“These have defined the area and given it much of its character; they also survived in spite of the heavy damage suffered by Southampton during the Second World War.”
He added: “Now one of the challenges faced by the council is how future changes to the area will be managed in a manner that both complements and enhances the Old Town, and drive regeneration that will support the city and its economy.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/trade_directory/