As part of the Society's role to promote the research, understanding and conservation of the archaeological and historic environment of Scotland for the benefit of all and advocate good practice, we respond to Government and other relevant consultations. The Society has been involved in advocacy of this type since it's formation in the 18th century, and has made its views known on a range of issues pertinent to the Society's aims. In the very first volume of the Transactions of the Society in 1792 there is a plea by Mr John Williams for the creation of a Royal Forest of Oak in Scotland, a plea to which "the ferocious attention of the Society and of the public" was called by a supportive Baronet Sir Alexander Dick of Prestonfield. The Society continues to direct its attention to matters of relevance to the historic environment of Scotland, although with varying levels of ferocity as required for each consultation!
The following advocacy and consultation responses have been made by the Society:
April 2001
Scottish Government Review of Public Bodies
March 2007
Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill
June 2007
Historic Scotland Investment Review, Archaeology Funding Programmes
SHEP on Scheduled Monument Consent
SHEP on Properties in Care of Scottish Ministers
SHEP on Listing
SHEP on Listed Building Consent
May 2008
SHEP on the Marine Historic Environment
Draft Scottish Planning Policy SPP23
June 2008
Heart of Neolithic Orkney Management Plan 08-13
July 2008
SHEP on Historic Battlefields
September 2008
Sustainable Seas for All: Scotland's First Marine Bill
December 2008
Edinburgh City Archives - Draft Business Recovery Plan
February 2009
Request for reburial of prehistoric human remains in Alexander Keiller Museum, Avebury, Wiltshire
World Heritage for the Nation: Identify, Protecting and Promoting our World Heritage
March 2009
Householder Permitted Developer Rights
June 2009
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)
August 2009
Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings (Amendment)(Scotland) draft Bill (subsequently renamed the Historic Environment (Amendment) Bill)
February 2010
Historic Scotland TCG Technical & Scientific Research Strategy
Extending Permitted Development Rights for Domestic Microwind Turbines and Air-Source Heat Pumps
June 2010
Consultation on the Role and Governance of the National Library of Scotland
Letter regarding Scottish Ministers' initial response to a planning application for a distillery development in Falkirk affecting the setting of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site
Scottish Government response to above letter
Letter of consent from Scottish Ministers
August 2010
Society written evidence for Parliamentary Education, Life-long Learning and Culture Committee on Historic Environment (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill
Written evidence responses from other organisations to the Committee are available here.
