St John's Lodge
Sir: Your leader of 10 May on St John's Lodge seriously misrepresents my position and powers as Chairman of English Herit- age. It suggests that I am able to overrule my fellow Commissioners and that I wish to do so in order that St John's Lodge can be 'gutted' in order to 'appease' Mr Fred Koch, who wishes to house his collection of 19th century pictures there. All this is quite untrue.
St John's Lodge will go through the normal procedures relating to listed build- ings in London, which can involve collec- tive consideration by the local planning authority, the London Advisory Commit- tee of English Heritage and the Commis- sioners of English Heritage. There is no power for me to act individually and nor would I wish to do so. Amongst those who are involved in discussions about St John's Lodge at present are the Royal Fine Art Commission, Westminster City Council, as the relevant planning authority, the Crown Estate Commissioners, as landlords, Mr Koch and his architectural advisers, and this Commission. Within English Heritage these discussions have involved Commis- sioners, our London Advisory Committee and officials.
The object of the current discussions is to see whether a scheme can be devised which will protect St John's Lodge and will meet Mr Koch's purposes. This approach to the question does not spring from any personal initiative of mine, but is a normal way of going about things. It has the support of my fellow Commissioners who have discussed it collectively, and of those who advise us.
I should be grateful if this was made clear to your readers.
Montagu of Beaulieu
English Heritage, 23 Savile Row, London W1
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