Advisors to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee arrived in Edinburgh yesterday to review Edinburgh's status in light of controversial plans for development of the historic Old Town and New Town.
The two representatives, one from UNESCO World Heritage Centre and one from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), are here until Saturday and will examine a number of sites in the 1.76 square mile World Heritage site, in particular Caltongate, the Haymarket Tiger Development, Leith Docks and the new St James Centre.
The Mission will present a report at the 33rd session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2009.
Councillor Jenny Dawe, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council said she welcomed the visit: 'I am extremely proud of Edinburgh's World Heritage status and our beautiful architecture, which attracts people to live, visit, study and invest in Edinburgh. We are also a living city that is continuously evolving with all new developments scrutinised and receiving fair appraisal. I believe that heritage and development both contribute to the fantastic quality of life that Edinburgh offers. I am glad that the UNESCO delegation have a very busy programme that will enable them to meet key interests and to see for themselves just how much Edinburgh values its heritage.'
Twelve Monuments Project
The council cites as an example of the work it is doing to conserve Edinburgh's built heritage the Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, a three year programme expected to cost around £1 million, funded by
EWH, the City of Edinburgh Council and a variety of other sponsors.
The programme is aimed at restoring some of the city's famous monuments and statues. Already completed are the Black Watch Memorial on the Mound, the
Buccleuch Memorial in Parliament Square, the Melville Monument in St
Andrew Square and the Bow Well in the Grassmarket.
This year the focus
is on Calton Hill monuments, in particular the National Monument (the iconic, unfinished acropolis) and the Nelson Monument. The work is expected to cost around £78,000 and is due to be
completed at the beginning of December 2008.