More than a year after it was first revealed that Ealing Council was to appoint a conservation officer after previously axing the position in 2018, the Council has now advertised for a person to “play a crucial role in preserving and enhancing the historic environment within Ealing”.
It has been a number of years since Labour-run Ealing Council has had a conservation officer. In 2018, a petition was launched by Save Britain’s Heritage to get the Council to reverse its plans to axe the position.
The Council claimed at the time that the specialist role was no longer needed. A spokesperson said in 2018: “the proposed restructure focuses on creating a more efficient team by moving away from specialist functions in planning to one where all planners have the skills and knowledge to assess applications and create policies. Ealing’s planning staff have heritage and design training and the necessary skills needed to assess the majority of applications from conservation areas or that relate to heritage matters.
In recent years, Ealing Liberal Democrats and others have been campaigning for the re-introduction of the role.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Ball, Opposition Spokesperson on Housing and Development: “Liberal Democrats 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 to Ealing Labour who cut such a role several years ago in a false cost saving exercise. It shows their lack of capability at long term planning.”
Councillor Ball added: “This is a classic u-turn by Ealing Labour who keep “flip flopping” on policy, making excuses to blame the previous Labour administration or the now former Conservative government. Liberal Democrats want the Council to focus more attention on preserving the rich heritage and history of our borough.”
In its recruitment advertisement, 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 preserving and enhancing the historic environment within Ealing. Your expertise will guide planning decisions, protect heritage assets, and contribute to the overall development of the borough. If you’re passionate about conservation, heritage, and community engagement then this could be the job for you.
“Based in the newly established Urban Design team in the Planning, Design and Sustainability division, this is a really exciting time to join the council.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, an Ealing Council spokesperson said: “Following the recruitment of a new assistant director of planning, design and sustainability in November 2023, we have been creating our new urban design team.
“We have now recruited a new urban design manager, who will join us in September, and the conservation officer is the next key role for the team.
“This post is being advertised now 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 the news that the role was being re-introduced, Neil Reynolds, chair of Ealing Green Party told EALING.NEWS: “It is welcome that the council is recruiting for a conservation officer, as this is a position has been vacant for too long. I sincerely hope however that this appointment is being made to protect green spaces rather than prevent properties from being modernised to reduce the borough’s carbon emissions.”
