For those that remember my earlier post on this - one of three
surviving Brunel pumping stations for his famous atmospheric railway
- DCMS listed it as grade 2 this morning, thus saving it from
impending demolition - which would probably have taken place in two
weeks time, without any record being made of the structure etc. Now a
future use has to be found for it, and Dairy Crest - who have been
removing the roof tiles - will now have to put them back again. for
press coverage see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7287696.stm
While I suspect that the decision to list after all (an almost
unprecedented change of mind, as it had already been through a
recommendation and appeal) was made a very high political level, its
salvation was as much part of the massive local campaign to save it,
and the real national sentiment for Brunel and all his works.
Sometimes I suspect that policy makers have certain views on what
constitutes heritage that are completely out of step with the
national sentiment as a whole. Thankfully we have a system that
allows democratic forces to overule the decisions of 'experts' and
long may it survive!
Best wishes,
mark
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