The Conservation Areas at Risk list stated Daventry town centre along with conservation areas in Badby, Staverton and Hellidon are under threat of decay and damaging change from things such as plastic windows and doors, poorly maintained roads and pavements, street clutter and unsympathetic extensions to buildings.

Henry Howard, chairman of the Daventry and District Civic Society, said: "It is very difficult for the town centre to retain its heritage in comparison to the villages. We have the moden Abbey Retail Park next to the Grade I-listed Holy Cross Church in Daventry.
"We would like to see development that is more sympathetic with the history of Daventry in the future."

The report, released on Tuesday, has also been poorly received by councillors in two of the villages.

John Golding, chairman of Staverton Parish Council, said: "I am sure that my council will be disappointed to hear that we have been included on this list. We take our conservation area status very seriously and seek to maintain its features whenever possible."

Sir Tim Jenner, chairman of Hellidon Parish Council, said: "All of us at Hellidon look to preserve the village.There has been no development
for the past 10 years which has been unsympathetic to the village and we fight to preserve it."

However, Badby Parish Council broadly agreed that the conservation
area in village could be under threat.

Chairman Mike Richards said: "We would broadly agree with what
English Heritage is saying.
"Badby is an area of natural beauty and we would like to see it stay
that way."

For more information on the list visit www.english-heritage.org.uk
/conservationareas or contact English Heritage customer services
on 0870 333 1181 or email customers@english-heritage.org.uk.