A new law has been proposed to help protect Wales’ historic monuments from damage.
The Historic Environment (Wales) Bill is to make it more difficult for individuals to escape prosecution for criminal damage by claiming ignorance of a monument’s status or location.
It will give ministers powers to take immediate action if a scheduled monument is threatened and oblige owners who have damaged monuments to undertake repairs.
Between 2006 and 2012, there were 119 cases of damage to scheduled monuments – butonly one successful prosecution.
The bill will also allow local authorities to take action to halt decay and provide them with new ways of recovering the costs of any urgent works.
Launching the new bill at Caerphilly Castle, the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, said: “This bill will introduce the first Wales-only legislation for the historic environment, which means we will have the powers to protect our unique heritage so that it continues to enrich the lives of present and future generations.
“We have seen from the reaction to recent cases of damage to scheduled monuments in Wales the pride that people take in our heritage. Without the right protection and management, our precious buildings and monuments could be lost forever.
“Through this Bill, we will improve the management of our historic environment, making it clear, effective and flexible, enabling us to protect our past for the Wales of tomorrow.”