Local authority archaeology services across the UK could be set back 20 years following a spate of cuts and closures, the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) has warned.
The CBA’s figures show that 12% of conservation officers and archaeologists lost their jobs in 2010-11 as a result of local government cuts. The cuts have continued into this financial year.
The CBA is aware of three services with question marks over their future and another six that are in negotiations with their councils over their funding agreements. Gill Chitty, the CBA’S head of conservation, said: “We are heading towards a situation taking us back 20 years.
“Outreach and education are major casualties across the board, but we are working hard to ensure that core archaeological advice is available and the historic environment record is maintained as a minimum.”
From April, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council are proposing to cut funding to Tees Archaeology, which provides archaeology services to Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool borough councils.
Robin Daniels, archaeology officer at Tees Archaeology, said this amounted to losing 50% of the budget, putting the future of the service at risk.
Other recent casualties include Sandwell Council, which last year closed its archaeological service and made two staff redundant, as part of a restructure. A council spokesman said that negotiations were ongoing over a potential partnership with another local authority.
In April, Liverpool Council, Sefton Council, St Helens Council, Knowsley Council and the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral withdrew funding from Merseyside Archaeological Service.
The CBA’s figures show that 12% of conservation officers and archaeologists lost their jobs in 2010-11 as a result of local government cuts. The cuts have continued into this financial year.
The CBA is aware of three services with question marks over their future and another six that are in negotiations with their councils over their funding agreements. Gill Chitty, the CBA’S head of conservation, said: “We are heading towards a situation taking us back 20 years.
“Outreach and education are major casualties across the board, but we are working hard to ensure that core archaeological advice is available and the historic environment record is maintained as a minimum.”
From April, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Middlesbrough Council are proposing to cut funding to Tees Archaeology, which provides archaeology services to Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool borough councils.
Robin Daniels, archaeology officer at Tees Archaeology, said this amounted to losing 50% of the budget, putting the future of the service at risk.
Other recent casualties include Sandwell Council, which last year closed its archaeological service and made two staff redundant, as part of a restructure. A council spokesman said that negotiations were ongoing over a potential partnership with another local authority.
In April, Liverpool Council, Sefton Council, St Helens Council, Knowsley Council and the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral withdrew funding from Merseyside Archaeological Service.
