HERITAGE NEWS 004

First appeared:25th April 2013

Convent Guard Room

Many of you will have been following the debate on the proposed project for the Convent Guard Room on the social media networks since the item was announced through the publication of the DPC agenda last Friday.

Our last newsletter to our membership stated the Trust’s thinking on the project and also asked for feedback from yourselves. We must say that the feedback received was mixed, some in support and some in opposition to the proposal but the main opposition was on the basis of a change of use of the Guard Room.

The Trust had been consulted on the design of the project and had taken the view that although continuation of use as a Guard Room is of preference, if the use had to change for reasons explained to us by the Government project manager, then the Trust felt that its duty was to positively influence the design, which we have to say had been carefully thought through by the GoG architect.  If the buildings use was to change, then the changes needed to be made sensitively in order to safeguard the future survival of the building. Could there be another way? There is always another way, but it is the circumstances of the present that should guide and inform our judgement and not the benefit of hindsight. It is the Trust’s duty to gather all the information and take a balanced view.

The Trust would like to see all GoG projects go to DPC as do private ones. This is happening but very slowly and to differing degrees depending on the department involved. The standards of information and timescales for submission to the planning process should apply to GoG as it does to the private sector. This would then provide a truly open planning and consultation process, but with this opportunity also comes responsibility. The public needs to engage with the planning process and try to approach applications objectively. A very difficult thing to achieve in any situation.

The Trust believes we have carried out our statutory obligations to heritage on this application but we must also show our responsibility to our members who have shown their opposition of project, but also should the principle of change of use be conceded, commend the fact that this project has been designed in a heritage sensitive way.

This proposal has highlighted once again the need for a revised heritage protection act and the listed buildings to go with it. The Trust has been working actively on this for the last few years and we will continue to work towards the early publication of this bill for the long term benefit of Gibraltar’s heritage.