HUNDREDS of conservation areas and heritage sites in the North-East and North Yorkshire are at risk of neglect, decay or damaging change, the latest survey by English Heritage reveals today.

In the North-East, one in five conservation sites, designated by local councils to protect their unique character and appearance, are said to be at risk, while ten sites in North Yorkshire have been flagged up in the Heritage at Risk Report 2009.

To fight the problem, English Heritage has launched the Conservation at Risk campaign, to encourage local authorities, residents and businesses to work together to save the at risk areas before it is too late.

Two of the region’s local authorities which have worked to restore their conservation heritage in the last year have been reconised by English Heritage in the report.

Stockton Borough Council was awarded the national prize for managing conservation areas for its work on its at risk buildings, including Holy Trinity Church, just outside the town centre.

In North Yorkshire, Richmondshire was named as the local authority that has done most in the region to improve its conservation areas.

Richmond also won one of eight English Heritage regional awards for tackling long-term decline and the impact of foot-andmouth disease, through the Swale Valley Community Initiative.

According to the report, the top threats to conservation areas are plastic windows and doors, affecting 83 per cent of conservation areas, poorly maintained streets and pavements (60 per cent affected) and street clutter (45 per cent affected).

Trevor Mitchell, English Heritage regional director for planning and development, said: “These findings are a call for action.

Some of the North’s most iconic landscapes are conservation areas and they make a tremendous contribution to our quality of life and economy.

“We need to find solutions and we will target our conservation area grants on places identified as being at risk.”

Also at risk are many of the region’s protected buildings, including several on the Castle Howard Estate and at Kirkleatham Hall.

Many of the buildings on the register were also present on the 2008 list, with several noted to have deteriorated in the last year.

For the first time the report also contains a detailed study of the thousands of scheduled monuments, historic parks and gardens in the North and notes their condition.

For the full list of at risk areas and sites, and further details of the Conservation Areas at Risk campaign, visit english-heritage.org.uk.

WHILE there are hundreds of ancient dykes, pathways, moats, bridges and artworks listed, the main at-risk sites identified in the report are:

County Durham Ruins of St Lawrence’s Chapel, Barforth at risk of imminent collapse; Barforth Bridge, Barforth Hall, Barforth; dovecote north of St Lawrence’s Chapel, Barforth Hall, Barforth; West Mural Tower at Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland; Hedleyhill Colliery Coke Works, Hazlett House, Brandon and Byshottles; Langley Old Hall, Burnhope; Church, 50m north-east of Croxdale Hall, Croxdale and Hett; Durham Prison Officers’ Club, The Tithe Barn, Hallgarth Street, Durham; Terrace Wall, south of Bow Lane, Durham and Framwellgate; Castle Wall, Durham and Framwellgate; Bounds College, Ushaw College, Ushaw, Esh; Chapel of St Michael at Ushaw College, Esh; remains of Stockton and Darlington Railway, Etherley; Dovecote at Gainford Hall, Gainford; Gainford Hall, Low Road, Gainford; medieval chapel at Harbour House Farm, Plawsworth; Lambton Castle, Lambton Park, Little Lumley; monastic grange at Priory Farm, Muggleswick; gateway, Mortham Tower, Rokeby; Sherburn House Bridge, Sherburn; Brandon Walls Lead Mine, Stanhope; Middle Level Lead Mine, Stanhope; Clock Tower and Windlestone Hall, Windlestone Park; Harperley Working Camp, World War Two POW camp, Wolsingham.

Tees Valley Dovecote, near Manor House, Houghton Bank Lane, Houghton le Side; Church of All Saints, Sockburn Lane, Sockburn; remains of Kilton Castle, Kilton Thorpe Lane, Kilton, Lockwood; Kirkleatham Hall Stables, Kirkleatham, Redcar; Turner Mausoleum, Church of St Cuthbert, Kirkleatham Lane, Kirkleatham, Redcar; War Memorial, Saltburn and Marske; ruins of Church of St Thomas a Becket, Durham Road, Grindon; Brunswick Methodist Chapel, Dovecot Street, Stockton; Bowes Railway incline, Birtley; Axwell Park, Blaydon; Dunston Staiths, Dunston; Ravensworth Castle, Lamesley; Gibside Hall, Whickham.

North Yorkshire The Coach House, Rounton Grange, East Rounton; Landmoth Hall, Landmoth cum Catto; West Lodge, Thornton Stud, Newsham; Snape Castle, Snape with Thorpe; Chapel of St Mary, Allerton Park; Syningthwaite Priory Farmhouse, Bilton in Ainsty; Temple of Victory, Allerton Park, Flaxby; The Old Hall, Middleton Quernhow; the Orangery, Ripley Hall; Butterton Bridge, Sawley; Rudding Park, Follifoot; Whorlton Castle Gatehouse, Whorlton; Ionic Temple, Duncombe Park Estate, Helmsley; Ayton Castle, Castle Rise, Scarborough; Cobscar lead smelt mill; Ravensworth Castle, Ravensworth; Old Grandstand, Richmond; lime kilns at Allerston; The Stray, mausoleum, and The Pyramid, Castle Howard Estate; Sheriff Hutton Castle, Sheriff Hutton; Slingsby Castle, Slingsby; The Brew House, Whitby Abbey, Whitby; Nappa Hall, Askrigg, Richmonshire; Coverham Abbey, Coverham with Agglethorpe.