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Liverpool faces up to world heritage removal threat with taskforce Liverpool faces up to world heritage removal threat with taskforce
(35 minutes later)
The mayor of Liverpool has created a taskforce to work to “reset” the city’s relationship with Unesco after the body threatened to remove its world heritage status. The mayor of Liverpool has created a taskforce to work to “reset” its relationship with Unesco after the body threatened to remove the city’s world heritage status.
In July Unesco gave Liverpool a final warning, saying it would remove it from its list of world heritage sites as early as 2018 unless it reconsidered regeneration plans for its historic docklands area. In July, Unesco gave Liverpool a final warning, saying it would be removed from the list of world heritage sites as early as 2018 unless the city reconsidered regeneration plans for its historic docklands area.
If the site is deleted from the list, it will be the third to be removed in Unesco’s history. The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman became the first in 2007 when the site was reduced by 90% following the discovery of oil. The second was Dresden in 2009 following the building of the four-lane Waldschlösschen bridge. If the site is deleted from the list, it will be the third to be removed in Unesco’s history. The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman became the first in 2007 when the site’s size was reduced by 90% after oil was found. The second was Dresden in 2009, after the building of the four-lane Waldschlösschen bridge.
Writing to heritage minister John Glen to inform him of the establishment of the taskforce, the Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said he hoped the group could “reset the relationship with Unesco”. Writing to the heritage minister, John Glen, to inform him of the establishment of the taskforce, the Liverpool mayor, Joe Anderson, said he hoped the group could “reset the relationship with Unesco”.
He said that austerity had caused the city to lose focus on communicating the benefits that world heritage status brought to the economy, identity and self-esteem of Liverpool. But the council claims that almost £750m has been invested in historic assets within the Unesco approved site, including the upgrade of 37 listed buildings since 2012. He said austerity had caused the city to lose focus on communicating the benefits that world heritage status brought to the economy, identity and self-esteem of Liverpool. But the council claims that almost £750m has been invested in historic assets within the Unesco-approved site, including the upgrade of 37 listed buildings since 2012.
Liverpool earned the designation from Unesco because of its historic importance to the growth of the British empire and to European emigration to the US. The waterfront was placed on a list of endangered world heritage sites in 2012, in part because of the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development, which plans to turn 60 hectares of redundant docklands into flats, offices and shops. Liverpool earned the designation from Unesco because of its historic importance to the growth of the British empire and European emigration to the US. The waterfront was placed on a list of endangered world heritage sites in 2012, in part because of the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters development, which plans to turn 60 hectares of redundant docklands into flats, offices and shops.
English Heritage said that the development would leave the setting of some of Liverpool’s most significant historic buildings “severely compromised”, the archaeological remains of parts of the historic docks “at risk of destruction”, and “the city’s historic urban landscape will be permanently unbalanced”. English Heritage said the development would leave the setting of some of Liverpool’s most significant historic buildings “severely compromised”, the archaeological remains of parts of the historic docks “at risk of destruction”, and “the city’s historic urban landscape will be permanently unbalanced”.
The taskforce is headed up by Sir David Henshaw, who was the chief executive at Liverpool city council when the city received the status in 2004, and includes Sir Neil Cossons, a former chair of English Heritage. The taskforce is headed by Sir David Henshaw, who was the chief executive at Liverpool city council when the city received the status in 2004, and includes Sir Neil Cossons, a former chair of English Heritage.
Henshaw, who is chairman of National Museums Liverpool, said the city’s track record in preserving its unique heritage was “beyond question.” Henshaw, the chairman of National Museums Liverpool, said the city’s track record in preserving its unique heritage was “beyond question”.
“What has been unfortunate is that the need for economic growth and job creation has clouded the fact that heritage is actually a key ingredient in achieving those goals,” he said. “Liverpool has achieved a huge amount since 2004 in investing in its historic assets but has somewhere along the way failed to demonstrate how this is shaping the city’s future.” “What has been unfortunate is that the need for economic growth and job creation has clouded the fact that heritage is actually a key ingredient in achieving those goals,” he said. “Liverpool has achieved a huge amount since 2004 in investing in its historic assets, but has somewhere along the way failed to demonstrate how this is shaping the city’s future.”
In his letter, Anderson writes: “I welcome the Unesco challenge as it will enable us to highlight all the city’s achievements and re-energise the heritage agenda which has been less visible than I would have liked. In his letter, Anderson wrote: “I welcome the Unesco challenge as it will enable us to highlight all the city’s achievements and re-energise the heritage agenda, which has been less visible than I would have liked.
“I have established a Liverpool world heritage board to review our position, involve all the city stakeholders and engage directly with Unesco with the objective of reaching agreement on the way forward. With the support and input of the [Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport] I am sure this approach can ensure Liverpool’s world heritage status is secured.” “I have established a Liverpool world heritage board to review our position, involve all the city stakeholders, and engage directly with Unesco with the objective of reaching agreement on the way forward. With the support and input of the [Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport] I am sure this approach can ensure Liverpool’s world heritage status is secured.”