City conservation may save heritage

Nov 17 2006 By Rob Merrick Political Correspondent, Daily Post

MUSEUMS must adopt techniques being pioneered in Liverpool to save Britain's cultural heritage from destruction, a committee of peers urged yesterday.

Its stark report warned of irreversible damage to treasured works of art, rare books and historical buildings as vital knowledge of conservation was lost.

The all-party science and heritage committee criticised the department of culture, media and sport (DCMS) for failing to grasp the seriousness of the threat at the nation's museums.

Ministers were focused instead on increasing visitor numbers - a worthy aim that, unfortunately, helped to speed up the deterioration of artefacts.

However, the committee highlighted several positive initiatives at National Museums Liverpool, which it visited as part of the inquiry.

They included "impressive" scientific techniques used at the recently-reopened Liverpool Conservation Centre to mount exhibitions and demonstrations.

The report pointed to a laboratory in which scientists worked in full public view, which showed how the techniques could "conserve our cultural heritage".

In addition, a three-dimensional laser scan - traditionally used in medicine to train surgeons - allowed the original colours of sculptures to be restored on a screen.

National Museums Liverpool had combined public-sector research grants with private funding to develop both laser scanning and laser cleaning technologies, the report said.