A meeting today (Friday 15 December) of the Lake District World Heritage Site Steering Group, has voted by a large majority to progress a bid for World Heritage Site status for the Lake District.
Members of the steering group voted for the motion by 21in favour compared with 2 against and 3 abstentions to progress the bid to the next stage, which will involve consulting with the local community and other stakeholders throughout Cumbria on the preparation of the management plan and nomination document.
The management plan will include developing social, economic and environmental opportunities.
Chair of the Steering Group, the Rt Hon Lord Clark of Windermere, said:
"I am very pleased that after 15 months hard work, there was a decisive vote in favour of progressing the bid. Considerable work still needs to be done to gain public support and engagement with the management plan as it develops. I will ensure the process is as inclusive as possible."
Notes for editors
Applications for World Heritage status can be made in February each year. As the number of applications is limited, it is expected that the next available opportunity will be in February 2009. The Lake District World Heritage Site Steering Group has now agreed to commission the management plan and community consultation process in the run-up to a possible bid in February 2009. The final decision will rest with UNESCO and their chosen advisory bodies.
Each representative of the Steering Group had one vote on behalf of their organisation. The members of the Steering Group are :
Allerdale Borough Council
Barrow Borough Council
Brantwood
Carlisle City Council
Copeland Borough Council
Countryside Landowners and Business Association Cumbria Association of Local Councils Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cumbria County Council Cumbria Cultural Forum Cumbria Rural Forum Cumbria Strategic Partnership Cumbria Tourism Cumbria Vision Eden District Council English Heritage Federation of Cumbria Commoners Fells and Dales Leader Forestry Commission Friends of the Lake District Government Office North West Lake District National Park Authority Lakeland Arts Trust National Farmers Union National Trust North West Development Agency Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Ruskin Library, Lancaster University South Lakeland District Council The Upland Centre Untied Utilities Plc West Cumbria Development Agency Wordsworth Trust
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 programme administered by UNESCO.
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
For more information on World Heritage Sites visit whc.unesco.org
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.
ENDS