Public ‘more aware of heritage’

MORE than half the population feels it is important to protect our heritage, according to a survey.

Heritage Council chief executive Michael Starrett told a conference that a growing number also maintained heritage was everyone’s responsibility.

Mr Starrett also rejected the perception, which he said was often put forward in the media, of “negative polarisation” between heritage and the development of major, national road projects, for example.

“To say the heritage lobby is anti-development, or that the development lobby is anti-heritage, is not true,” he said.

Speaking at a heritage conference, in Listowel, Co Kerry, he said a survey of 1,200 people by Lansdowne Market Research had shown a notable change in public attitudes between 1999 and 2004.

Mr Starrett told delegates that, in 1999, a survey found that 46% of people felt it was very important to protect our heritage, while in 2004, the figure had risen to 55%.

This was across all social classes and the change in Dublin had been huge over the same period - from 41% to 71%.

He also said people’s perception of heritage had broadened, with 38% now believing wildlife habitat to be part of heritage, compared to 28%. There was a similar change in opinion regarding scenic views.

Mr Starrett said more responsibility for heritage must be shifted from central to local level and he welcomed the appointment of heritage officers by most of the 26 county councils.