CBA response to St Pancras which also may be of interest

Dan Hicks
http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Archaeology/staff/danhicks.html

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Heyworth <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 1:54 PM
Subject: Desecrating St Pancras


For immediate release
26 November 2002

DESECRATING ST PANCRAS

The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) deplores the decision by Rail Link
Engineering to cut back the time available for archaeological work on the
site of the former St Pancras burial ground and to continue the removal of
the human graves with mechanical diggers.

This work, undertaken as part of the construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail
Link, means a total loss of the bodily integrity of the human remains on the
site. Any possibility of identifying individuals, through association with
grave markers such as coffin plates, will be lost and people who may have
ancestors buried in the cemetery will have no opportunity to rebury their
forebears in a dignified manner.

It raises significant questions about the planning of the construction work
as it has been known for at least five years that the burial ground would
need to be cleared.

The case also raises wider concerns about the use of blanket legislation for
major projects (such as airports and proposed business development zones)
which bypass the usual checks and balances in the planning system, as well
as the adequacy of archaeological risk management on major infrastructure
projects.

CBA Director George Lambrick, who was the lead consultant for the cultural
heritage assessment of the CTRL for RLE, said "I am appalled that all the
hard work to mitigate the damage to the archaeological remains along the
route of the CTRL is being let by down by an apparent lack of proper
planning for the excavation of the burial ground at St Pancras. I have great
sympathy for the people whose ancestors are now being desecrated by
bulldozers."


NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The Council for British Archaeology is the principal UK-wide
non-governmental organisation that promotes knowledge, appreciation and care
of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future
generations.

2. The work at St Pancras is being undertaken as part of the construction of
the Kings Cross Channel Tunnel terminal - the end of the Channel Tunnel Rail
Link (CTRL). The construction work is being managed by Rail Link Engineering
(RLE), a consortium of the Engineering shareholders (Arup Group Ltd, Bechtel
Ltd, Sir William Halcrow & Partners Ltd and Systra) of London & Continental
Railways Limited, the company selected by the Government to build and
operate the CTRL. See http://www.ctrl.co.uk.

3. RLE recognised the need for archaeological work on the site through the
environmental impact assessment. They have supported a large number of
archaeological investigations in advance of the main civil engineering works
as they are an important element of the environmental management strategy
for the CTRL.

4. CBA Director George Lambrick is available for interview.

Please contact:

Dr Mike Heyworth
Council for British Archaeology
Bowes Morrell House
111 Walmgate
York YO1 9WA
Tel 01904 671417
Email [log in to unmask]

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Dr Mike Heyworth, Deputy Director, Council for British Archaeology
Bowes Morrell House, 111 Walmgate, York YO1 9WA, UK
tel 01904 671417, fax 01904 671384, web www.britarch.ac.uk
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