Ealing Council to recruit conservation officer after role controversially scrapped in 2018 – EALING.NEWS – The Voice of Ealing 7 towns

More than a year after it was first revealed that Ealing Council was to appoint a conservation officer after previously standing down from the position in 2018, the Council has now announced that an individual will “play a crucial role in the conservation and enhancement of the historic environment of Ealing’. .

It has been several years since Labour-led Ealing Council has had a conservation officer. In 2018, Save Britain’s Heritage launched a petition to get the Council to reverse its plans to remove the position.

The council then argued that the specialist role was no longer needed. A spokesman said in 2018: “the proposed restructure focuses on creating a more effective team, moving from specialist planning roles to one where all planners have the skills and knowledge to assess applications and create policy. Planning staff in Ealing have heritage and design training and the skills to assess most applications in conservation areas or relating to heritage matters.

In recent years, Ealing Liberal Democrats and others have campaigned for the role to be reintroduced.

Lib Dem Councilor Jon Ball, opposition spokesman for housing and development: “The Lib Dems have said that a conservation officer is vital for the Council to preserve the character and heritage of Ealing. The recruitment of a new conservation officer is an embarrassment for Ealing Labour, who ditched such a role several years ago in a bogus cost-saving exercise. It shows their lack of capacity in long-term planning.”

Cllr Ball added: “This is a classic turn from Ealing Labor who continue to ‘pimp’ politics by creating excuses to blame the previous Labor administration or the former Tory government. The Liberal Democrats want the Council to pay more attention to preserving the heritage and rich history of our borough.”

In its recruitment notice, the council said of the role, which comes with a salary of up to £54,129 a year: “As a conservation and heritage specialist, you will play a crucial role in conserving and enhancing Ealing’s historic environment. Your expertise will guide planning decisions, protect heritage assets and contribute to the overall development of the neighbourhood. If you are passionate about conservation, heritage and community involvement then this could be the job for you.

“Based in the new urban design team in the planning, design and sustainability division, this is a very exciting time to join the council.”

Speaking to EALING.NEWS, a spokesperson for Ealing Council said: “Following the recruitment of a new Assistant Director of Planning, Design and Sustainability in November 2023, we have created our new Urban Design Team.

“We have now recruited a new Urban Design Manager who will be joining us in September and Conservation Officer is the next key role for the team.

“This post is now being advertised and we encourage anyone who meets the person specification to apply for this exciting new role. Please visit www.ealing.gov.uk/jobs for more details.”

Following news that the role had been reintroduced, Neil Reynolds, chairman of the Ealing Green Party told EALING.NEWS: “It is welcome that the council is recruiting for a conservation officer as this has been a vacant position for far too long. . I sincerely hope that this appointment is made to protect green spaces, rather than prevent properties from being upgraded to reduce the neighborhood’s carbon footprint.”