Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Summary The opportunity to comment on the Plan was issued to a number of services within Falkirk Council, Forth Valley College and SRPS; four national bodies: Historic Environment Scotland, Scottish Canals, Museums and Galleries Scotland, Visitscotland; plus the area s local history groups. One verbal, eight online and two written responses have been received. Q1 Do you agree with the definition of heritage used in the Plan? 87 % agreed (7/8) Q2 Do you agree that the Plan accurately describes the heritage of the area and the key stakeholders? Falkirk Council More clarity is required to emphasise that the plan is a plan for the area and not in the ownership of one single organisation. noted and the title of the Plan has been amended to Heritage Delivery Plan for the Falkirk Area 2018-2023; the introduction has also been reworded to more accurately reflect the Plan s scope. 87% agreed (7/8) 1
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Q3 Do you agree with the summary of achievements over the period of the last Plan? Friends of Kinneil The plan generally does not convey a sense of ambition for Kinneil House & Estate to achieve their potential, despite the feasibility study commissioned by the Trust having been cited as a success of the previous delivery plan period. noted; the Plan does include Kinneil Estate in the action Invest in built and landscape assets (p.21) and this work will be guided by the Kinneil Masterplan. 87% agreed (7/8) Q4 Are there any achievements that you think are missing? SRPS: p.10 lists awards and mentions Museum Accreditation and Visitscotland status of FCT organisations. In the same context it should mention 4 star status was achieved by SRPS in 2016 and Museum Accreditation was retained. Anonymous: Dollar Park, Arnotdale House refurbishment plans? Plan amended to include these achievements. Plan amended on p. 10 to include this achievement Anonymous: There could be a greater emphasis on the important role of the libraries in promoting heritage events and initiatives, in particular involvement in Big Roman Week and Bo ness partnership with Hippfest. There could also be mention of the two twinning organisations which promote Falkirk s heritage to Créteil (France) and Odenwald (Germany), and who entertain visiting groups from these two regions p.3 amended to highlight Libraries role in promoting local heritage. 2
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Anonymous: Designated litter groups for town AND country and shoreline Anonymous: First World War Centenary projects and others delivered by FCT noted but this achievement is outwith the scope of the previous Plan noted; WW1 Centenary programme (Memorial, Reflection and Restoration) was included on p. 9 along with a number of other FCT initiatives. 75% agreed (6/8) Q5 Do you agree with the strategic priorities set out in Section 5 of the Plan? Falkirk Council There should be a clearer connection between the strategic context set out in Section 5 and the priorities proposed in Section 6; this should include more information on the SOLD, in particular, how it underpins the strategic plan for the area. FCT Libraries It is a comprehensive plan at a strategic level. There is a clear focus on community engagement and income generation. noted and plan amended (insert detail) welcomed 3
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Friends of Kinneil: We do not support the following strategic priority within the Plan: To respond to aspirations from within localities in the area by placing greater emphasis on facilitating community activity, rather than public bodies providing the development and service. To be clear, this is not the aspiration of the Bo ness locality. The Plan appears to be implying that as far as heritage provision is concerned, the resources of the entire Falkirk Council area should be mainly focussed upon Falkirk itself noted; however, in respect of Bo ness, the Plan prioritises focussing [Trust] resources and direct provision of programmes and services [in] the Hippodrome (p.20). The Action Plan also includes SRPS commitment to undertaking improvements to enhance the visitor experience on the Bo ness and Kinneil Railway (p.20). The context for this priority is rapidly reducing public sector subsidy and, as such, is concerned with building capacity in local communities to continue to deliver heritage activity. The successful Great Place bid and, it is hoped, the Antonine Wall HLF bid, will contribute to this across the whole Council area, including the west where there is no subsidised heritage provision. 75% agreed (6/8) 4
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Q6 Do you agree with the objectives set out in Section 6? Friends of Kinneil As far as historic houses/museums/parklands are concerned, the Plan proposes to focus provision and investment on Callendar House and Park. Kinneil House/Museum & Estate should receive at least a proportionate share of investment and provision. Indeed, Kinneil should arguably now receive a higher share of additional investment and focus as Falkirk has already benefited over recent years, and continues to benefit, from a significantly higher degree of heritage investment in proportion to Bo ness. Continuing on investment in venues, the Plan describes Kinneil Museum as of local significance and proposes that unlike Callendar House and Park, it should be developed through facilitating community involvement. In other words, it will not receive its share of FCT resources and direct provision of programmes and services. Instead, it is expected that community volunteers will be responsible for provision. We strongly reject this inequitable approach. noted; the Plan does include Kinneil Estate in the action Invest in built and landscape assets (p.21) and this work will be guided by the Kinneil Masterplan. The question of parity in investment across the various sites is one that is regularly debated and with limited resources we have to set our priorities accordingly. 87% agreed (7/8) Q7 Are there any other objectives that should be considered? Falkirk Libraries Under motivate those not engaged with heritage we suggest adding: Providing spaces in communities outwith Falkirk and Bo ness for exhibitions (such as Action Plan amended to take these comments into account (p.20) 5
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 the World War One exhibition in libraries at the moment) and workshops, thereby enhancing heritage provision. Developing joint working opportunities to engage with young people and schools to inspire them with the heritage that exists on their doorstep e.g. through Local History Week and other joint initiatives. Anonymous: seems fairly comprehensive welcome Anonymous: the preservation of the Antonine Wall area whilst enabling its open use and community benefit requires a dedicated study beyond the objectives of the current plan Anonymous energy conservation Anonymous: 7.3 Invest in venues should the focus only be on those venues likely to make money? Other venues e.g. sports centres and libraries arguably of greater importance to local communities, as well as visitors. Libraries provide computer access and tourist, local history information for visitors as well as Falkirk residents. Historic Environment Scotland has a comprehensive Management Plan for the entire length of the Wall which is supported locally through planning guidance and local interpretation. HES is working in partnership with the five local authorities along the Wall to develop a Stage 2 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support community projects and infrastructure developments. welcome; this is a focus for all Trust facilities and is referenced in the Trust s Annual Action Plan 2017-18 (item 3.10): http://bit.ly/2d9ra5q This will be continued into our Annual Action Plan for 2018-19 which is at draft stage. This objective relates only to investment in heritage provision. The Trust has a planned approach to asset management across all its facilities and has a balanced approach to allocating investment. 6
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Q8 Which objectives/actions of the Plan are important to you/your organisation/your group? SRPS: All of them are important, although some to a lesser extent than others HES: Historic Environment Scotland is supportive of all the objectives outlined in the plan and we have a particular interest in the objectives relating to venues and partnership. Anonymous: Antonine Wall. Further investment in the FCT library network and its access to the local population. Anonymous: I think all the objectives are important. However, I will be surprised if they are all achieved. Anonymous: I do realise the benefits of community involvement which I see as a euphemism for volunteers, but I would urge wariness in the replacing of highly trained, even professional staff with volunteers. I know money needs to be saved but volunteers come with problems and preconceptions. I m thinking here particularly about the Library Service which has been built up by library professionals. I would hate to see that destroyed as it has happened in so many places in England welcomed welcomed noted; investment in the library network is outwith the scope of this plan but covered extensively in the Library Development Plan 2016-21 (http://bit.ly/2bubwxq) noted noted; development of the library service is outwith the scope of this plan but covered extensively in the Library Development Plan 2016-21 (http://bit.ly/2bubwxq). See also comment under Q.5. Q9 Are there any objectives or opportunities you feel are missing from the Plan? Falkirk Council: Council Leader and Portfolio Holder: Encouraging local heritage groups to work with their communities to gather stories recognising the impact that this kind of work can have on improving mental wellbeing, tackling loneliness and improving knowledge and welcomed; Falkirk: landscape, industry and work has a digital strand whereby a digital repository, Falkirk s Stories, will be developed to gather material 7
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 understanding of local heritage; is there an opportunity to bring these stories together? from a range of local heritage groups and individuals relating to the area s heritage SRPS: the opportunity to build on the joint marketing project that has developed in the last couple of years perhaps should be mentioned Anonymous: public meetings Anonymous: environmental issues related to culture and society, pathways and safe cycling links to the parks/helix from outlying villages noted; Action Plan amended to take account of this opportunity. One of the key projects of Falkirk: landscape industry and work is to set up a Heritage Alliance for the area where we will be looking for people with a shared interest and enthusiasm to work collaboratively to improve knowledge of and access to the area s heritage. Falkirk Council s Open Space Strategy aims to connect the area s green spaces creating safe routes for walking and cycling; the Heritage Delivery Plan and Falkirk: landscape, industry and work will contribute to this by highlighting the network of heritage assets that are connected by the area s extensive network of paths and cycleways. Q10 Have the right stakeholders been identified to undertake the Actions set out in Section 6? 100% agreed (8/8) 8
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Q11 What opportunities do you/your organisation/your group feel they could offer to help deliver this plan? SRPS: Many of the actions within the plan are key to what our organisation is already planning internally. We are happy to participate in partnership working opportunities too. welcomed HES: HES is listed as a partner on the Antonine Wall under the Partnership objective; however, one of our key roles is as a supportive partner and enabler with regards to historic assets more generally. HES would be keen to explore further with FCT how we can work in partnership and contribute to a strategic planning partnership Anonymous: volunteering welcomed welcomed; see note above under Q8 Anonymous: more public involvement welcomed: see note above under Q8 Anonymous: The Town Twinning organisations (which I belong to) promote the area through our website and Facebook pages, and by facilitating links between arts, sports and other organisations. welcomed Anonymous: education lessons linked to heritage noted 9
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 Q12 Do you agree with the proposal to establish a heritage partnership (Action Plan 7.4) with the aim of strengthening collaboration among heritage organisations in the Falkirk area? 100% agreed (8/8) Q13 Do you have any other comments? Falkirk Council: Council Leader and Portfolio Holder: Recognising the importance of heritage-tourism and ensuring that our local attractions capture the imagination of potential visitors (capitalising on Outlander and the two Battles of Falkirk). Tourism supports around 3000 jobs in the local area and there could be more focus on developing retail opportunities and paid-for experiences (such as guided tours). Recognising the power of the area s industrial heritage to help inspire our young people to take more of an interest in STEM (Science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects developing a workforce for the future. welcomed and Action Plan amended under 7.1 Participation welcomed; one of the strands of Falkirk: landscape, industry and work is Careers in a modern producer economy which focusses on how heritage can nurture pride in the area s manufacturing tradition and raise awareness of careers opportunities in this area with a particular focus of encouraging young women to study STEM subjects and seek work in manufacturing. Falkirk Libraries The other area that seems a bit missing is the digital offer. The new website may deal with this adequately but there is probably a piece of work around developing the local history material on the new website, as that is often a first point of welcomed; Falkirk: landscape, industry and work 10
contact for heritage tourists and visitors. Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 has a digital strand whereby a digital repository, Falkirk s Stories, will be developed to gather material relating to the area s heritage Historic Environment Scotland (HES): HES is very supportive of the Heritage Delivery Plan, its inclusive definition of heritage and focus on community participation. We look forward to working further with Falkirk Community Trust. 3.4: sites which HES manage/maintain should include (at least) Castlecary. There are also a few smaller sites. welcomed Section 3.4 references Rough Castle, Seabegs Woods and Watling Lodge as sites which HES maintains. 4.2.1 (c) p.8: where the fact that the Wall is part of a wider World Heritage Site is given, should give the name Frontiers of the Roman Empire and could state alongside Hadrian s Wall and the German Limes. 3.1 (p.4) Kinneil House and Estate: all the significant assets are laid out here including the use of the woods for pit-prop production; but no mention of the A-listed James Watt cottage and boiler or its significance 3.4 p.4 HES is referred to as the Scottish Government s executive agency Scottish Ministers. We re not an agency, but a public body. Our website instead says [the correct definition]. The text could also highlight our role an enabler of positive change to historic assets through its planning and scheduled monument advice, technical advice and grants. 3.4 (p.4) We would want to clarify the wording of the partnership arrangement referenced [here] regarding Kinneil House Open Days. 3.5 p.4 refers to the five local authorities in a partnership headed by HES. This needs rephrasing to in a partnership with HES. Text amended Text amended to include reference to James Watt. Text amended: HES is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland s historic environment; HES is an enabler of positive change to historic assets through its planning and scheduled monument advice, technical advice and grants. Text amended: The building is closed to the public, but opens on special days through the year managed by Friends of Kinneil in partnership with and supported by HES. Text amended 11
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 5.2 p.12 the document states: For Scottish Canals and the Antonine Wall, the emphasis of their work in Falkirk lies in commercial and tourism developments, reflecting an emphasis in local strategic priorities. While we are aware that Falkirk s priorities around tourism often guide how the Antonine Wall projects are delivered, in reality this is not the Antonine Wall s driving force in Falkirk (and commercial interests are certainly not a key driver) so could this perhaps be reworded a little more sensitively (particularly in the light of the forthcoming HLF bid that focusses on community engagement)? Text amended: For Scottish Canals, the emphasis of its work in Falkirk lies in commercial and tourism developments, reflecting an emphasis in local strategic priorities. The Antonine Wall, as well as being a tourist attraction, presents many opportunities for community engagement to raise the profile and awareness of the area s Roman heritage. Friends of Kinneil: A minor correction is that the Big Romans annual event (p.7) is organised by The Friends of Kinneil, not Bo net, and is called Big Roman Week a week-long festival. This is something which the Trust could have developed and led across the Council area and beyond, rather than leaving to enthusiastic volunteers with minimal funding giving up their time to make a success of it. Under the objective of investing in landscape assets, there should be an ambition and target for the condition of Kinneil Estate to continue to be improved to a level at which it could successfully be designated on the National Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes by, say, the end of the Delivery Plan period. It recently missed such designation very narrowly despite achieving similar scoring to other listed sites, owing to the neglected condition. Correction made on p.8. 4.2.1 (b) celebrates the contribution that volunteers made to heritage provision in the area and Big Roman Week is an example of successful community-led activity. Other examples include the work of Falkirk Local History Society s involvement in public engagement programmes as part of Falkirk THI and the work of Grangemouth Heritage Trust and Communities along the Carron some are supported by public subsidy and others are not. As the Priority Projects for the Kinneil Masterplan are being reviewed, it may be worth considering adding securing designation on the National Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes as an objective. It is stated that Callendar House & Park have the greatest income generation potential and highest profile outside the area. Thanks to The Friends of Kinneil but with little promotion by the Trust, we would suggest that Kinneil now has a very high profile outside the area relative to Callendar House. From a heritage and historical point of view, Kinneil noted; the Action Plan has been amended to take account of specific parks plans (Kinneil Masterplan, Callendar Park Masterplan and successful Stage 1 HLF bid for Zetland Park). It is worth noting that each of these plans 12
Heritage Delivery Plan Consultation Review: February 2018 is of national and international significance. This view was clearly supported by academic opinion at the Kinneil Experts Day organised by Historic Environment Scotland at the Hippodrome in November 2017. As for income generation potential, it is not clear on what assessment or evidence of Kinneil s future potential this statement is based. The reason that Kinneil, which is a massive property asset, currently generates little income is that it has not received significant investment. A well-run estate of this size should be generating income and supporting jobs and the local economy, especially if it were strategically linked to other nearby local tourism assets such as the Bo ness & Kinneil railway, and also to the rest of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. place considerable importance on the role of volunteers to support the rejuvenation of the area s major public spaces. Anonymous: A lot of retired people, some of whom were involved in running big organisations, could be consulted on many of the matters above. You have an untapped well of expertise that should, could and would be used to the mutual benefit of everyone. Anonymous: Realising that money is extremely tight, and that Callendar House and the Helix generate income and bring visitors to the area, I hope that other Trust venues will not be overlooked. Libraries, sports centres, the Hippodrome, etc. improve the quality of life for Falkirk residents, thus improving health and well-being, libraries in particular providing learning and leisure opportunities, especially to the poorer members of our society. Having said all that, I congratulate the Board on their vision and commitment to improving Falkirk and its environs. welcomed in the context of broadening out community involvement in increasing knowledge of and access to the area s heritage. This Plan does focus on heritage although there are references to the Hippodrome, as a heritage asset. On p.3 and in the Action Plan, the role of libraries as repositories of local history information has been reinforced. It is worth noting that the Library Development Plan (http://bit.ly/2bubwxq) goes into much more depth about the role of libraries in enhancing community well-being. 13