Unpublished letter to the Times, August 2015, reflecting concerns about failure to protect localised World War two sites. I had raised this and concern about the failure of Councils and official public heritage bodies to protect other local small scale industrial heritage relics (as monuments) in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011 with one effective response from a coastal district archaeological preservation project officer.
Sir,
As much of the country wallows in the World War I nostalgia fest, the visible remains of the fight to save civilisation in World War 2 seem sadly neglected – certainly in the North West. In the Liverpool City region – whether at Crosby / Hightown / Altcar (Sefton district), Wirral, Liverpool, Warrington, West Lancs, the pill boxes and gun emplacements are not so much deliberately run down or neglected but simply unknown and ignored. They are not preserved or enhanced by anyone. I’ve seem similar situations with the reminders in Wales north and south. Notable exceptions being local history signage for key parts played in WW2 at Beaumaris, and along the Wallasey promenade marking ships lost, and popular remembrance of the May 1941 Blitz in Liverpool & Bootle. The pill boxes remain the most visible reminder if you know where to look. Maybe the Government branding change for English Heritage will enable them to assist conserving smaller everyday historic sites from our more recent war time and indeed industrial heritage.
Kiron Reid
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