30/1/2006 - Cumbria County Council takes a lead on progress towards World Heritage decision

Cumbria County Council is taking the lead in the process of deciding whether to bid for World Heritage Site status for the Lake District.

The county council agreed to take over from the Lake District National Park Authority for the latest stage of the process of investigating the desirability of achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Tim Heslop, county council cabinet spokesman for Economic Well Being and   Regeneration, said: “We have been asked to lead the process up to the point where all the parties involved must decide whether or not to make a bid for World Heritage status.

“At this stage we have to have a long, hard look at what a successful bid might mean for the whole county, not just for the Lake District itself so it is appropriate that the county council takes the lead. 

“I do not imagine that this will be an easy process, however, I believe that this is an opportunity which needs to be properly assessed if we are to represent the interests of the people of Cumbria.”