THE unique heritage of Darlington could be at risk unless there is more commitment to conservation.

This is the nub of a hard-hitting report compiled by councillors.

In a no-holds-barred assessment, a review group says the town is failing to deal with conservation at a strategic level.

Care should be taken to protect the historic built environment as a matter of urgency as work looms on creating pedestrian areas, it says.

It adds that although the council has a conservation policy, there is no corporate commitment to the cause, or staff available to deliver policy.

It also wants to see the appointment of "historic environment champions", at both member and officer level.

Pride of Place - the final report from the conservation review group of the environment scrutiny committee - has been welcomed by heritage organisations.

The review group makes a series of recommendations such as:

* establishing a corporate commitment to conservation

* staffing requirements be met at the right level

* priority appraisals of all conservation areas

The report catalogues a list of problems in handling conservation.

It says the issue is not always a major factor in decision-making and urges the appointment of a conservation officer.

It also feels the council could do more to prevent inappropriate alterations to listed buildings.

The skills available within the council's workforce to restore its own heritage assets are said to be diminishing.

Review group chairman Coun Stella Robson said the exhaustive report had taken a year to produce.

Insisting it had not been prepared "in a spirit of animosity", she said: "We make recommendations which would bring us up to the best practices elsewhere."

Any resultant action would come at a cost.

"There would be a cost, make no mistake," said Coun Robson. "But it is important to do what we can to make the Darlington of the future do justice to the environment of today.

"It doesn't mean keeping everything as it is now, but it does mean development has to be sympathetic."

The next step will be to present the report to the council cabinet.

"I hope it will then go to officers to produce some costings and an action plan," said Coun Robson.

Jules Brown of the North East Civic Trust, said he was particularly pleased to see reference to appointing historic environment champions.

"Maintenance, firm guidance and early involvement are crucial to the successful management of the historic environment in Darlington," he said.

English Heritage regional planner Alan Hunter said the report came at an important time for Darlington.

"Major conservation issues are being faced at a time when the council has been without the benefit of in-house expertise on the town's historic environment," he said.