I Conservation in the Community ACO Workshopat Liverpool·April1986 Few will easily forget the impact of seeing the scale of Liverpool's problems at first hand. Dr Ritchie, of the Merseyside Dock Development Corporation, stressed at the reception on the first evening the positive developments - the achievement of the MDDC in restoring and finding uses for Albert Dock, the largest group of Grade I listed buildings in Europe; but over the next three days we were to see and hear of many, smaller schemes - and many areas where nothing had yet made any visible impression. PROFESSORTARN, of the University's School of Architecture, set the conference in context by reminding us that fifteen years ago conservationists were generally regarded as cranks; we had progressed since then - but on the other hand, fifteen years ago conservationists would not have been looking to the voluntary sector for major contributions. We had gained enormous public support, but the present political climate provided little warmth and comfort for us. He was delighted we had chosen Liverpool to meet; its low public image discouraged potential conference customers; he stressed that its problems were not principally political, but those of a great 18th and 19th century port with no modern role. We needed to remember that the art of practical conservation is part of active planning. However, the present government's determination to 'take the corsets off' planning, as part of a major reversal of Fabian ideals and the principles of the welfare state, is a cause for concern; promotion of the rights of the individual and private enterprise pose a threat to most environmental causes. Politics and conservation The political background -whether defined generally, or as party politics at local or national level - was a theme that recurred throughout the conference. T0N~ ALD0Ue, architectural journalist, homed in on specific threats in the next talk on Friday; economic exigency (as .? age 3 when developers claim that conservation stood in the way of jobs); reduced planning control; an iniquitous tax system which fails to favour repair rather then alteration, and which financially rewards demolition; lack of any national policy ( a 'Blueprint for Survival' for buildings?) to encourage maintenance and good housekeeping; and- locally as only one example - populist regimes which do not see conservation as relevant. His prescription was more promotion and publicity; conservation staff are too modest and do not make enough noise. We could take lessons from such as Rod Hackney in self-advertisement. But in order to gain genuine popular support, we must communicate the relevance of conservation to the local community. The Come Dancing approach to conservation Next, KEN MARTINof Liverpool Polytechnic, also a television personality - perhaps the David Bellamy of the built environment. His piece de resistance was proof, in slide form, that he had proposed the restoration of the Albert Dock a good 15 years before the Merseyside Development Corporation was even a gleam in Michael Heseltine's piercing blue eyes. He exhorted us to be more open-minded; to recognise that the expression of individuality in the form of off-the-peg features applied to the terrace house ("dot:meritis") should be recognised and channelled; and to stop "suspecting the profit motive" in the development process. He illustrated the types of scheme which can result from a mis-match of ardent developer and Conservation Area -the 'Bathcaster' scheme ( aluminium sashes and asbestos cement mansard) and recommended that those proposing this (or the neo-Georgian mode) should be asked" Yes, but does your car have coach lamps?". He greatly favours the promotional video or telly programme as a way of getting across ideas; thus the memorable and lengthy scene showing +to the strains of a Palm Court Orchestra - an adroit Ken Martin steering an impressive lady in evening attire a_round the floor of a new community centre while he questioned her closely about the merits of the scheme and how it was achieved .
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