Dear Robert,

PILLBOX AT OLD SARUM AIRFIELD, WILTSHIRE

Many thanks for your letter of 20th October 2006, setting out your concerns about the fate of the pillboxes at Old Sarum. May I begin by apologising for the inexcusable delay in replying. Raising questions of planning and designation, it right fell between our South West Regional office and the Heritage Protection Department. I truly regret this, especially as we work hard to provide a unified service, and have been much involved already in upholding the special interest of Old Sarum, at public inquiry and after.

The question you pose as to whether we can list it is not easy to answer. Pillboxes were erected in very considerable numbers: some 6,500 are thought to survive. In the past we have only designated those with exceptional interest in their structure, engineering or historical associations: planning guidance demands that we are selective when it comes to mass-produced structures, so we would need to know more about this particular one. However, it is clear that some exceptional ensembles warrant a more inclusive approach. Old Sarum is, in European terms, a remarkably intact aerodrome landscape and we need to consider all of the historical elements. We will therefore look into this one straightaway.

The Defence of Britain project, as well as studies that we have ourselves commissioned, has highlighted the extent of survival. We also realise the importance of looking at these contextually: just the point you make in your letter. The 'stop lines' are obvious candidates for protection, as they have strong cumulative interest, and we are looking at a group in North Kent to see just how this approach works out practically. The forthcoming White Paper on Heritage Protection should help us flag up locally significant archaeology much better too, something which will assist us greatly in cases such as this one.

As perhaps you already know, the proposal to designate the Airfield as a Conservation Area is due to go before the council on the 28th February 2007, now that public consultation has taken place. This will surely assist on flagging up the importance of the pillbox, even if strictly speaking the pillbox falls below the cubic capacity - 115 cubic metres - required for conent prior to demolition. Our South West Region has been much involved at Old Sarum and I hope we can go helping.

Once again, please accept my apologies for the lengthy delay in replying to your letter: we shall learn the lessons.

Dr Simon Thurley