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 BBC Wales's Rhun Ap Iorwerth"The report says thousands more buildings in Wales should be protected by being listed"  real 28k Architectural Historian Judy Loach"Listing a building can be a double-edged sword" real 28kAssembly Member Janet Davies"We want to preserve the buildings in Wales which are important to us" real 28k |
Historic buildings report is critical
Chirk Castle has come in for criticism over costs
A critical National Assembly report into the work of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, suggests there are 10,000 or more buildings in Wales that do not have the protection they deserve.
The Assembly Audit Committee called for better control of grants, and singled out Chirk Castle near Wrexham saying over-the-odds capital grants to the National Trust building could no longer be justified.
The National Assembly Audit Committee report called for better monitoring of grants and calls for a more rigorous and transparent grant assessment process to direct resources to areas of greatest need.
But the report cites an agreement signed by the old Welsh Office with Chirk Castle - which pays out almost �250,000 a year - as the main example of "waste".
The report recommended that thousands more buildings in Wales should be protected by being listed.
It said CADW had its work cut out to list them within the agreed timetable of five years.
Assembly Member for South West Wales Janet Davies said: "What we are recommending is that the 10,000 - 12,000 historic buildings waiting to be listed should be looked at as urgently as possible, in particular the ones in danger should be looked at first.
"We're also concerned that it may take 20 years for ancient monuments to be listed.
"We want to preserve the buildings of Wales that are important to us.
"Wales perhaps is not as rich as some countries in our built environment - but I think what we have it is important that we keep."
However, The National Trust has welcomed the proposal that future grant applications for Chirk Castle should be subject to detailed financial appraisal.
Peter Broomhead, The National Trust's director for Wales, said grant funding for each property should be considered on its own merits.
Listing questioned
He added that grant funding should not be penalised because of "an entirely separate arrangement made for Chirk".
But Architectural Historian Judy Loach suggested listing thousands of buildings may not be the best way of protecting them.
"Listing a building does not really help very much if there aren't funds forthcoming to help people who own them," she said.
"Listing it does not guarantee financial help. Until that is available listing can be a double-edged sword - because the fact that it is listed can put off people getting involved.
"Sometimes by listing a building it can stay on the market a while and be allowed to fall down."
The Assembly Audit Committee called for better control of grants, and singled out Chirk Castle near Wrexham saying over-the-odds capital grants to the National Trust building could no longer be justified.
The National Assembly Audit Committee report called for better monitoring of grants and calls for a more rigorous and transparent grant assessment process to direct resources to areas of greatest need.
But the report cites an agreement signed by the old Welsh Office with Chirk Castle - which pays out almost �250,000 a year - as the main example of "waste".
The report recommended that thousands more buildings in Wales should be protected by being listed.
It said CADW had its work cut out to list them within the agreed timetable of five years.
 Chirk receives grants "in perpetuity" |
"We're also concerned that it may take 20 years for ancient monuments to be listed.
"We want to preserve the buildings of Wales that are important to us.
"Wales perhaps is not as rich as some countries in our built environment - but I think what we have it is important that we keep."
However, The National Trust has welcomed the proposal that future grant applications for Chirk Castle should be subject to detailed financial appraisal.
Peter Broomhead, The National Trust's director for Wales, said grant funding for each property should be considered on its own merits.
Listing questioned
He added that grant funding should not be penalised because of "an entirely separate arrangement made for Chirk".
But Architectural Historian Judy Loach suggested listing thousands of buildings may not be the best way of protecting them.
"Listing a building does not really help very much if there aren't funds forthcoming to help people who own them," she said.
"Listing it does not guarantee financial help. Until that is available listing can be a double-edged sword - because the fact that it is listed can put off people getting involved.
"Sometimes by listing a building it can stay on the market a while and be allowed to fall down."
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