Launch of report on heritage challenge

BALANCING heritage and development in an historic city like Wells is not easy and it is a challenge that is experienced by cities and towns across the country.

To research better ways of approaching this, a group of civic societies got together and, with funding from Historic England and other support, a pilot study was carried out in Wells and this was followed by research in 12 other cities. The resulting report has now been launched in Westminster and will be presented at events all over the country. The launch in Wells will be hosted by Wells Civic Society on Wednesday, February 8, at 7pm at the Museum on Cathedral Green.

In Wells, the heritage is something that is part of everyday life, but it doesn’t look after itself.

Wells Civic Society (WCS) was formed in 1952, as part of the growing movement to give a voice to communities. Its remit was to: promote high standards of planning and architecture; secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest or architectural merit; and other worthy aims.

Chris Winter, the current chair of WCS, said: “We still