South Gloucestershire Historic Environment Record
South Gloucestershire have kindly provided copies from their records
USERS CODE OF PRACTICE
The South Gloucestershire Environment and conservation section is committed to the conservation and protection of the archaeological heritage.
A register of archaeological and historical sites, structures and find-spots, known as the Historic Environment Record (HER), is maintained within the Environment and Conservation Section of South Gloucestershire Council. Its function is to ensure that archaeological information is available for the planning process, to secure the conservation and protection of the archaeological heritage. Central government guidance, such as the Planning and Policy Guidance Note 16 (PPG 16), and references to the archaeological heritage in the governments environmental strategy document ‘This Common Inheritance’, have confirmed the primary role of the HERs as sources of archaeological information.
Accordingly, it has been considered desirable to set out a number of guidelines for users, based on the Code of Conduct devised by the Association of County Archaeological Officers, and now adopted by the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO).
In using the South Gloucestershire HER, the Inquirer agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the Code of Conduct, as set out below.
- All HER users will accurately inform the Planning Officer (Archaeology & SMR) in writing of the purpose and location of their inquiry and the use to which the information will be put.
- Users will respect the right of the HER service to withhold information either because it is deemed confidential, or because of the requirements of the Data Protection Act. However, the HER service will not withhold information without reasonable cause.
- Where an inquirer requests that the HER treat an inquiry in confidence, this will be respected. Similarly, HER users will not pass on information in an irresponsible or unethical manner.
- Access to South Gloucestershire HER may be refused where there is reasonable cause to believe this would adversely affect the archaeological heritage.
- Although every reasonable effort is made to verify information contained within the HER, it is derived from a variety of sources, mostly secondary, and it is accepted that such records are not definitive.
- The HER service reserves all rights of copyright, which are owned in the material provided. Provision of the information to a third party without the written consent of the HER service is a breach of that copyright. Information supplied shall be used for the purposes specified only, and shall not be retained after that use has finished.
- Where specific consent under the copyright provisions governing South Gloucestershire HER has been obtained for dissemination of HER data to third parties through publications, reports or theses, due acknowledgement of the use of the HER will be given.
- A charge may be made for consulting the HER. This will vary according to the nature of the enquiry and its scale, and may be reduced or waived in certain circumstances.
- Where a charge is levied, the basis and/or level of charging will be stipulated at the outset of the inquiry.
- All users will inform the HER of new sites or information, which come to light as a result of their research. Copies of, or access to the completed research will be made available within a time-scale agreed by the Planning Officer (Archaeology & SMR).
- Any lines which delineate sites and/or monuments, listed buildings, locally listed buildings, on any maps in whatever format are intended as guides only and should not be taken as definitive. Maps are intended for guidance only and are not intended to define boundaries as noted in Ancient Monument, Listed Building or Conservation Area legislation
- This Code of Conduct may be subject to revision without notice.
David R Evans
Planning Officer (Archaeology & HER)
Planning and Environment
South Gloucestershire Council
The Civic Centre
High Street
Kingswood
BS15 2TR
Date of Revision: 07 August 2002
E-mail: [email protected]