County heritage champion (From Gazette & Herald)

County heritage champion

HISTORIC buildings, places and areas in the county have a new champion.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Heather Garnett has taken on a new role to make sure the importance of the county's historic environment is taken into account in council policies and strategies.

Her first job was to visit Sinh Ley Chinese Takeaway in Kirkbymoorside Market Place, where refurbishment work has marked the culmination of a three-year repair project across Ryedale's market towns.

Designated areas in Kirkbymoorside, Malton, Norton and Pickering have received £30,000 each year to go towards repairs, as part of the Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS) designed to boost the local economy.

The funding came through equal contributions from North Yorkshire County Council, Ryedale District Council and English Heritage.

Councillor Garnett said: "English Heritage now plans to replace these HERS with Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas, but because there could be a slight delay in phasing in the new arrangements the good news is that the Ryedale scheme is going to continue for another year."

Updated: 11:25 Thursday, February 17, 2005