England has some 9,300 Conservation Areas, historic parts of cities, towns, suburbs and villages designated by local authorities to protect their special character. But what condition are they in? Are they cherished through a close partnership of council and residents? Or are they at risk from neglect, decay and inappropriate development? For the full story of English Heritage�s new campaign announced today, Wednesday 18 March, see: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.15959 There will be a web page running within the next 24 Hours at www.english-heritage.org.uk/conservationareas -Ends-

For further press information, please contact: Beth McHattie 020 7973 3254 07850 608994 beth.mchattie@english-heritage.org.uk or Rhiannon Tracy 020 7973 3250 rhiannon.tracy@english-heritage.org.uk PHOTOGRAPHS A small number of representative photographs are available on www.picselect.com Images are available from that website under ARTS / ENGLISH HERITAGE / Heritage At Risk 2009/Conservation Areas At Risk