European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Great Britain the National Trust keepers of the treasures face dilemma As tourist Industry expands by William Tuohy los Angeles times Britain is a treasure House of historical Bui dings monuments and archaeological Sites and the National Trust which celebrates its Centenary next year holds the key to Many of them. But the National Trust and other organizations in the heritage Industry face a problem that also confronts the . National Park system where to draw the line Between visitor Access and preservation. Easier Access Means Ever More tourists and the need to accommodate them with Art infrastructure of services that often intrude on the Beauty of the attraction. Some critics such As architectural expert Colin Amery grumble that too Many of Britain s treasures have been unnecessarily tarted up to please a Public that is More interested in the on site tearooms and shops than in the attraction itself. We re in danger of turning our heritage into one vast theme Park says Amery who writes for the financial times. But i suppose that s because the heritage Industry is one of our few growth industries. We Don t make anything anymore in Britain. We just show visitors our  and Peter Jackson a member of the National Trust s ruling Council complains that some of the visitors facilities Cost a Fortune which might be better spent buying or maintaining historic properties. If i had it to do Over again Jackson adds i think i would oppose some of the More elaborate  other critics suggest that some of the National Trust s most popular properties Are beginning to resemble Alton towers a Well known amusement Park in terms of their operations. The National Trust for places of historic interest or natural Beauty National Trust for Short is Britain s largest charitable institution and now has More than 2 million members who support it. It is the largest landowner in Britain with 573,000 acres Hill Dale Lake Forest Inland Waterways seacoast nature reserves even villages Lacock in Wiltshire and West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire belonging to the Trust in perpetuity and open to the Public. The Trust also owns an estimated 40,000 archaeological Sites including prehistoric and roman antiquities. Among its properties is part of roman emperor Hadrian s Wall across Northern Britain. Most visible Are its More than 200 historic buildings open to visitors including castles and abbeys barns Mills and stately Homes. To administer and care for the properties the Trust employs about 3,000 salaried staff members and relies on 25,000 volunteers As wardens accountants surveyors gamekeepers and guides. And catering to visitors the National Trust provides parking lots information centers More than 200 shops restaurants 128 Tea rooms lavatories and other facilities including 200 Holiday cottages. Therein lies the problem. Is More Money devoted to the ancillary facilities than to the main attraction or As a close observer of the operations put it some believe the Trust has become too Large too unwieldy and too  there is in fact an organization called National Trust enterprises which is responsible for commercial operations. Its main activities Are retailing in shops at Trie properties and in Independent town shops serving in restaurants tearooms and refreshment kiosks and the letting of Holiday cottages. These activities provide operating capital for the fund s More traditional obligations officials say. Less than half of its annual budget comes from subscriptions gifts and legacies National Trust enterprises comes up with the rest More than $10 million last year. Hadrian s Wall spanning the Width of England marked the Northern Frontier of the roman Empire. But local residents complain when the Trust sets up tourist centers in towns near historic attractions such As the plan to build one near Snowshill Manor in the heart of the cotswolds. ,. Another criticism is that the Trust has Over expanded acquiring More Sites than it can afford to maintain properly. I can see Why people would be upset about Britain being turned into a theme Park says Rodney Legg a member of the Trust Council and chairman of the open spaces society. It will have a negative effect on Trust giving. The Trust is becoming overstretched. I wish we had t gone As far As we have with acquiring properties which need High Revenue to keep them  important to All Pov operators important ask for the real thing your passport to Frederick denis0n 123-456-789 it 79/0091 Carefree european driving get your nato traveler s card today see your local Agency immediately. This card could be yours with no fuss for details ask your local Agency for your referral your insurance partners Europe assistance your partner on the Road 16 stripes Magazine August 25, 1994