CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has become the first authority in the north of England to join a partnership fighting “heritage crime”.
The alliance includes the police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and English Heritage and aims to tackle thieves targeting historic sites.
Cheshire West and Chester has 116 scheduled monuments, more than 2500 listed buildings and several thousand un-designated heritage assets.
The council’s “heritage champion”, Cllr Hilarie McNae, said: “Cheshire West and Chester Council recognises how much we in this area depend on our heritage – not just to provide a beautiful setting but also to attract inward investment, facilitate regeneration and increase our tourist economy. That is why the council will be among the first local authorities to sign the memorandum.”
