TAMAR Valley Mining Heritage Project has been given a double funding boost ? just a fortnight after it was included in the successful bid for World Heritage Site status for Cornwall and West Devon?s Mining Landscape. The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) this week announced it was investing a further £245,000 in the project ? through Devon Renaissance. It brings the RDA?s total contribution to £1.2-million. The Government Office South West (GOSW) also confirmed it would be match funding this with £1.04-million through the European Objective 2 programme. The four-year project, which will cost a total of about £6-million, will help improve existing tourist attractions including: l Morwellham Quay, which is set to get a £1-million facelift l Mines such as Devon Great Consols will be made safe and accessible l A 60km network of trails and footpaths will be linked using old railway lines and the Tavistock Canal footpath. It is estimated the project will attract a further 40,000 visitors a year, support 90 local businesses, safeguard 20 to 30 jobs and create many more, Sue Brownlow, head of operations in Devon for the South West RDA, said: ?We recognise the positive contribution that the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project will make to increasing tourism and boosting the economy of the area.? Objective 2 manager Steve Humphries, said of the investment of more than £1.04-million worth of European funding: ?It will support the development of the Tamar Valley as a key visitor destination based on the area?s natural environment and mining heritage and opens up some important opportunities for the people and businesses of West Devon. ?The designation of the area as part of a World Heritage Site adds significant value to the project, with the Tamar Valley being a natural gateway to the other sites further west.? The Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project was a key element in the successful bid for World Heritage Site status which was confirmed by UNESCO on July 13. The project was last year awarded £2.3-million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, subject to further preparatory work. This has now been completed by the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Service and its partners, including the South West RDA, Devon County Council, the Countryside Agency, and West Devon Borough Council and work is expected to get under way on projects later this summer. West Devon Borough Council has committed £250,000 to the scheme and is jointly managing the project with the Tamar Valley AONB. Cllr Jayne Hill, chairman of the borough council?s environment and community committee, said: ?This is great news for the Tamar Valley and West Devon as a whole. The council is delighted to be managing one of the biggest projects we have ever undertaken. ?It?s an initiative that will be a huge boost to the local economy with its added tourism value, whilst protecting and caring for the area?s natural and historic environment too. Our communities can only benefit from such an ambitious scheme.? Tamar Valley AONB manager Tim Selman said the Tamar Valley and Tavistock had an ?amazing? heritage. ?It?s a special place and this money will help this neglected heritage to economically sustain this very rural area of West Devon. It will also create ? for the first time ? a fantastic resource for people to enjoy.?
