THE bid to have the West Devon and Cornwall mining landscape designated as a World Heritage Site took a step forward last week, after an assessor was appointed to inspect management proposals for the bid. Members of the Bid Team spent last week showing the assessor key sites included in the Bid across a wide area, from Tavistock and the Tamar Valley in the East, through Bodmin Moor, to the St Just area in the West. The visit also included a helicopter tour to view the whole site from the air. Meetings with top level officials, experts, planning officers and bid supporters took place throughout the week, ending with a reception at Geevor Tin Mine on Friday night. The assessor, Professor José Maria García de Miguel, must then submit a report to the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICMOS) by October 2005. A panel will then consider the report and will submits its final report and recommendation in early 2006. Professor José Maria García de Miguel holds a doctorate in mining engineering and is Professor of Petrology at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The purpose of the Assessors visit, as part of the overall Bid process, is to: l Become familiar with all aspects of the nominated property; l Review the proposed boundaries; l Evaluate the management regime and review management effectiveness; l Review real and potential threats to the property; and l Evaluate local support for the nomination. Cornwall and West Devon supplied much of the western world?s tin and copper for substantial periods over the last 4,000 years and for a time during the 18th and 19th century the area was the world?s greatest producer of tin and copper. It contributed substantially to Britain?s industrial revolution and influenced mining technology and industrialisation throughout the world. Cllr Robin Pike, West Devon Borough Council?s champion for the World Heritage Bid, said ?This is a critical stage. If successful, the economic and environmental opportunities and benefits will be enormous. This is especially true for Tavistock which, situated at the eastern end of the bid area, is perfectly located to exploit the ?gateway? role to the whole of the World Heritage Site.? Deborah Boden, World Heritage Site Co-ordinator said: ?I have been delighted by the degree of support and co-operation we have received from all involved in hosting the visit, and am very grateful to all who took part. ?The assessor has met over 100 people from Cornwall and West Devon in the last five days and I am sure the enthusiasm and commitment they have demonstrated will have impressed him.? David Andrew, assistant environment director for Devon County Council, said: ?We, and our partners, have been very pleased to contribute to this important and influential part of the inscription process. ?The assessor has been able to see first-hand the outstanding qualities of the areas and knows we have in place the appropriate measures to ensure their future conservation and use for education purposes as well as visitor destinations. We now look forward to next summer when we hope to hear that our bid has been successful.? The Bid has been in preparation for nearly five years due to the sheer scale of research and writing involved, and has undergone extensive public consultation including scrutiny by a wide range of subject specialists, consultants, the World Heritage Site Partnership and district and parish councils. Expected benefits of World Heritage Site Status include the preservation of the nominated sites, the preservation and enhancement of cultural distinctiveness and the promotion heritage-led regeneration within former mining communities.
