TAVISTOCK could soon be recognised alongside the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and the South West?s Jurassic Coast, if a bid for World Heritage Site status proves successful.
The town and parts of West Devon are included in the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site bid to the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to get global recognition for the historic importance of the area.
West Devon Borough Council is one of the partners involved in the bid ? this week the council?s future planning committee agreed that £3,000 should be committed towards the bid, which is likely to go before UNESCO in February 2004.
Stephen Gill, the borough?s planning chief, is West Devon?s representative on the World Heritage Site bid partnership.
He said: ?It?s a huge and exciting opportunity for the area and for Tavistock in particular.
?Obviously, there is a lot more work to be done in working up the bid, but if successful, the economic regeneration possibilities are vast.?
The committee also agreed that Cllr Margaret Garton should join Mr Gill on the partnership group.
Cllr Garton said: ?If it succeeds, this would put West Devon on the international map.
?I am delighted the bid has come so far ? West Devon Council is behind it all the way.?
World Heritage Status would mean extra funding for the area, the prestigious World Heritage Site emblem would be used in West Devon and tourism in the area would receive a huge international boost.
Included within the boundaries of the bid are Wheal Betsy at Mary Tavy and former mining areas around Weir Quay.
On the Cornwall side of the Tamar, a large area around Kit Hill, Kelly Bray, Calstock, Gunnislake, Harrowbarrow and Luckett are outlined.
Tavistock would be ideally placed as a ?gateway? to the Cornish World Heritage Sites.
The final boundaries should be decided by January ? the Objective One-backed nomination will then be considered by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport before going to UNESCO the following year.
Tavistock played a major role in hard rock mining for metals such as tin and copper during the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was designated a stannary town and was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution when advances in engineering technology quickly spread throughout the world.