CLUTTER STREET; 'Heritage ruined by eyesores'.Byline: MIKE SWAIN Michael ("Mike") Lee Swain (born December 21, 1960 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is one of the most successful American judokas. He competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1984. OUR heritage sites are being ruined by street clutter, conservationists said yesterday. Road signs, advertising hoardings, street calming measures and council bollards are spoiling conservation areas. A survey found one in seven of the 9,300 designated areas, designed to preserve traditional features, is drowning in the tide of modern eyesores. Now English Heritage English Heritage is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) with a broad remit of managing the historic environment of England. It was set up under the terms of the National Heritage Act 1983. wants the public to take a stand. Boss Dr Simon Thurley urged people to do "street clutter audits". He said: "Millions of us live in, work in or visit conservation areas. "They are centres of historic towns and villages, 1930s suburbs, rural idylls or workers' cottages - the heritage which gives England its distinctiveness." They are not always in wealthy districts. Half the conservation areas in the South East are in deprived regions. Problems include plastic doors and windows, satellite dishes and poorly maintained roads and pavements. Dr Thurley added: "The problems fall into two areas: What owners do to their properties and what councils do or fail to do to public spaces." He said original windows, doors and front gardens should be protected. He added: "Lose these and you lose the character and the history which made the area special in the first place." The English Heritage survey found Stockton in the North East had done most to preserve its conservation areas. Dr Thurley added: "It does not need to be costly, just prioritise places people cherish and have good management. "Well-cared-for conservation areas encourage good neighbourliness Noun 1. neighbourliness - a disposition to be friendly and helpful to neighbors good-neighborliness, good-neighbourliness, neighborliness friendliness - a friendly disposition , boost the local economy and will be a source of pride and joy for generations to come." CAPTION(S): ROSS-ON-WYE HEREFORD Signs and bollards hide 17th century market hall CONGLETON CHESHIRE Business ads line streets in historic market town WILLENHALL WEST MIDS MIDS Multifunctional Information Distribution System MIDS Matrix Information and Directory Services (USA) MIDS Multifunction Information Distribution System MIDS Municipal Infrastructure Data Standard Railings, bins and benches obscure historic clock HARINGEY N.E. LONDON Satellite dishes cover old homes in protected area |
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