25/7/2006 - Have a say on World Heritage Site status

New web pages have been set up to give members of the public a chance to have their say on the possibility of the Lake District bidding to become a World Heritage Site alongside Stonehenge and the Taj Mahal.

The pages at www lakedistrictwhs.org.uk give people the chance to comment on or take part in discussion forum on the desirability of achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status for the Lake District.

The site also contains lots of information about World Heritage Site status and the benefits and drawbacks of achieving it.

People will have the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings between now and November when the World Heritage Site Steering Group meets to decide whether to proceed with a bid.

This is not a formal consultation stage but the steering group does want know what people think about the issues. If the a decision is taken to go ahead with the a bid, wide scale formal public consultations will   be held.

Cumbria County Council is currently leading the discussions on World Heritage Site status on behalf of the Lake District National Park Authority.

The county council agreed to take over from the LDNPA for the latest stage of the process of investigating UNESCO World Heritage Site status. 

Notes for Editors

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain range, lake, desert, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated for the international World Heritage program administered by UNESCO.

According to UNESCO, World Heritage is the designation for places on earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. 

If UNESCO agrees a bid for the Lake District, Cumbria County Council will, as Cumbria's largest public authority, have an important role to play in the partnership which would be required to manage the World Heritage Site.

For more information on World Heritage Sites visit whc.unesco.org

Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 606334