World Heritage in Bath 100 Day Observations · World Heritage in Bath 100 Day Observations...
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World Heritage in Bath 100 Day Observations Professor Barry Gilbertson Chairman City of Bath UNESCO World Heritage Site
Transcript of World Heritage in Bath 100 Day Observations · World Heritage in Bath 100 Day Observations...
WorldHeritageinBath100DayObservations
ProfessorBarryGilbertsonChairmanCityofBathUNESCOWorldHeritageSite
AGENDAu WhoamI?Whoareyou?u Who am I ?
u A question for you
u What is World Heritage ?
u World Heritage in Bath
u Greater community awareness
u Your ‘take-aways’
u About 20-25 minutes followed by Q&A
ProfessorBarryGilbertson
v CityofBathWorldHeritageSiteNon-ExecutiveIndependentChairmanJuly2017
v 4quotedcompanydirectorshipsAustria,Canada(2)&UK2011-2017Non-ExecutiveIndependentChairman(orDirector)
v PricewaterhouseCoopersEquityPartner1996-2011
v 123rdRICSPresident2004/5v UniversityofBath:GovernoronCouncil2014todatev NorthumbriaUniversity2003todatev RoyalAgriculturalUniversity2014todatev BankofEngland:Adviser2003to2014
v GeorgianGroupMemberfor30+years
v BathPreservationTrustVolunteer2014todateFormerTrustee(1.5Yearsonly)andnowcompletelyindependent–noconflictofinterest
@barrygilbertson
Anobservation“Astheinternet,smartphonesandtechnologyclonethepeoplesoftheworld;asmusicandsportareincreasinglyinternational;asclothingbecomesuniversaland;astravelandcommunicationbecomeeasierandcheaper,ultimatelyonlyourcultureandheritageremaintodifferentiateus.”BarryGilbertson,October2017ontheimportanceofWorldHeritagestatusfortheCityofBath
Aquestionforyou
• Live adventurously • Let your life speak…in this case… • …through the physical presence of your
Friends Meeting House
Aquestionforyou
• Live adventurously • Let your life speak…in this case… • …through the physical presence of your
Friends Meeting House
“What distinct ‘presence’ would best serve Quaker beliefs and principles at the heart
of our World Heritage city?”
WhatisWorldHeritage?• UNESCO:establishedin1945
UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganisation‘Buildingpeaceinthemindsofmen&women’
• Anaccreditationsystem–aninvitationtoexcel• ThreatfromAswanDam,Egypt,1954
Firstinternationalconservationco-operationandcross-borderfunding
TemplesofAbuSimbelc1,300BC
‘Placesofoutstandinguniversalvaluetothewholeofhumanity’
1073 sites worldwide… 31 in UK
www.whc.unesco.org/en/list
WhatisWorldHeritage?Ø 1972ConventionTheprotectionofWorldCulturalandNaturalHeritage(‘theWorldHeritageConvention’)
Ø UKsignedin1984
Ø Todate:165statepartieshavesignedtheconvention…
Ø …and,insodoing,eachStatemadeacommitmentto‘identify,protect,conserve,present&transmit’[orpasson]WorldHeritageSitestofuturegenerations
Ø Theresponsibilityisthendevolvedlocally…
CityofBathUNESCO
WorldHeritageAdvisoryBoard
(Meetsquarterly)
Chairman
Professor
Barry Gilbertson
2017-2020
ExecutiveGroup
Max6people(Meetsmonthly
in-between)
B&NESforBath
Fivead-hoc
WorkingGroups
Bath
WorldHeritageEnhancement
Fund
Tony Crouch WHS Manager
CityofBathWHSAdministration
The5Priorities:eachgroupchairedbyaWHABmember
Five Priorities: 1. Managing Development 2. Transport 3. Public Realm 4. Interpretation & Education 5.Environmental Resilience
CityofBathWorldHeritageSite
KeyattributesofBath’sOUV• Romanarchaeology• HotSprings• Georgiantownplanning• Georgianarchitecture• C18thSocialambitions• GreensettingoftheCity
BathisconsideredSIGNIFICANT
onaworldstageEntireCityofBathinscribed
OnlyotherEuropeanCitysoinscribedisVENICE
Inscribed 12 December 1987 World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value
BathWHS:afewfacts• 29squarekilometres• c89,000residents(includingc25kstudents)• 4ScheduledAncientMonuments• c5,000ListedBuildings:highestconcentrationofGradeIandGradeIILBsoutsideLondon
• 3HotSprings• About1500Planningand700LBapplicationspaHighestnumberforanyUKWHS
• AlmostuniqueabilitytodirectlymonetiseBath’sWorldHeritagestatus,viatheRomanBaths,etc
CityofBathWHSAdvisoryBoardGOVERNMENT• UKGovernment;Digital,Culture,Media&Sport• Bath&NorthEastSomersetCouncil• BathCharterTrustees• AssociationofLocalCouncils
NATIONALCONSERVATION• HistoricEngland• ICOMOSUK• NationalTrust
EDUCATION• UniversityofBath• BathSpaUniversity• EducationAdviser
LOCALBODIES• WorldHeritageEnhancementFund• BathPreservationTrust• FederationofBathResidents’Associations• FederationofBusinesses• BusinessImprovementDistrict• BathTourismPlus• Bathscape• TheMayor’sGuides
SteeringGroup(nowAdvisoryBoardfrom2018)
establishedin2001Independentandnon-political
Bath World Heritage Site Management Plan 2016-2022 Ø Why have a Plan ?
Ø What it includes : Descriptions, Significance, Management, Issues, Challenges and Opportunities, Implementation & Action Plan
Ø Valid issues are linked to Objectives
Ø Achieved through ‘participatory means’
Ø Submitted to UNESCO and adopted by B&NES in Council
Perception : Discussion : Persuasion
BathWHSManagementPlan2016-2022
Five Priorities
1. Managing Development 2. Transport 3. Public Realm 4. Interpretation & Education 5. Environmental Resilience
• 17 Objectives enhanced by 47 Actions, but no executive powers
Perception : Discussion : Persuasion
Otherimportantissues• Conservation
• Funding
• Research
• Accessibility&Inclusivity
• VisitorManagement
• AdministrativeManagement
What’sIN&what’sNOTScopeofWHSInscription
• Bath’sattributes,asconveyedorexpressedintheOutstandingUniversalValuesforwhichtheCityofBathwasinscribedonUNESCOWorldList1987and,
forexample…• Traffic&Pollution• Visitors• SustainableTourism
What’sIN&what’sNOTScopeofWHSInscription
• Bath’sattributes,asconveyedorexpressedintheOutstandingUniversalValuesforwhichtheCityofBathwasinscribedonUNESCOWorldList1987and,
forexample…• Traffic&Pollution• Visitors• SustainableTourism
• Simplyput–notusualcivicresponsibilities
• Nor,forexample,inBath,thegullsorwheeliebins
• However,legitimateconcernsaboutstreetfurnitureproliferation,lackoflitterbins,uncollectedwasteetc.
Benefits• First&Foremost=aresponsibility
• ProtectionMaterialconsideration…viz:SackofBath
• Enhancement…makingtheCityabetterplace
• Tourism…5.7mvisitorspa–toomany?Worth£450m+10,000jobs235+filmingdays.Wouldtheycomeanyway?Sustainability?
• Image&VisibilityInternationalprofile• Businessedge…viz:UniversityofBathadvert
ImportanceofBath’sWorldHeritageStatus
Benefits• First&Foremost=aresponsibility
• ProtectionMaterialconsideration…viz:SackofBath
• Enhancement…makingtheCityabetterplace
• Tourism…5.7mvisitorspa–toomany?Worth£450m.10,000jobs.235filmingdays.Wouldtheycomeanyway?Sustainability?
• Image&VisibilityInternationalprofile• Businessedge…viz:UniversityofBathadvert
• EducationandAwareness• CivicPride– puttingresidentsfirst
ImportanceofBath’sWorldHeritageStatus
Somelocalquotes• “Moretourism,killstourism”• “Maketrafficfitthecity,notvice-versa”• “Studythepasttoplanourfuture”• “PuttingResidentsfirst”• “VisitorstoB&NESdonotcometovisitKeynshamorSaltfordorWellow,forexample,buttovisittheWorldHeritageCityofBath”…
However,theincomegeneratedbyBath’sheritageeconomyisspreadlikejamthroughoutB&NESCouncil’stowns&villages
BathisB&NESGoldenGoose
“Bathisaliving,breathing,thrivingcity”TimWarrenOctober2017
• Threatenedby…• NotenoughfocusonBathWHSassourceofculturaltourism
andrevenuefortheCouncil?• Councilcannolongerbeaprovider,butmustbeanenabler• DMP:sustainabletourismnotachievable?• Traffic:volumes,parkingandcoaches?• Pollution?• 89,000residents(but25,000arestudentsnotpayingCouncilTax)
fundingthewear&tearofc5.7mvisitorsperannumRatio:1residentto89visitorsversus,say,AmsterdamIto15
Suggestedquidproquo:useWHStosupportCouncilinitiatives
withCouncilsupportforWHSinitiativesasanenabler:workingtogetherforthegreaterbenefitofBathanditsresidents
Money,Money,Money• HavesuccessiveCouncilsreallyspentenoughonWorldHeritage…ratherthan
justHeritage(vizRomanBaths)?• WHSInterpretationCentreinArchwayproject–bigtick• Pleasegiveseriousconsiderationto…• >TouristTax(insomeform– NB:2014B&NESVisitorContributionScheme)WorkingwellonavoluntarybasisonNorfolkBroadsandinLakeDistricct• >CoachCongestionCharge• >ChargeforListedBuildingConsentapplications• >SponsorshipofWHSevents,projectsanduseofWHSinadvertising• >EngageaWorldHeritagefund-raiser?• >CommercialfocustosupportWHSinitiatives
IncreasedvisibilityandrecognitionareessentialforWHS
andthereforeanenablerfortheCouncilasapotentialrevenuegenerator
WorldHeritageEmblem• Symbolizesinterdependenceofculturalandnaturalproperties
• Squarerepresentshumanskill&inspiration• Circlerepresentsnature
Thesetwoattributesareintimatelylinked
Bath’sonlyexternalvisibilityofWHSemblem?
NosignofWHSemblemonCouncilpublications!
GooduseofWHSemblem
InnovativeuseofWHSemblem
WHSawareness-raisingtalks4freetalkstocelebrate30yearsoftheCityofBathWHS• Bath,HadriansWall,Stonehenge,TowerofLondon
UNESCOWorldHeritageanditsimportancetotheCityofBath• B&NESLeader,CEOandCabinet–November&December2017• SocietyofFriends(BathQuakers)-January• BathConservatives–January• BRLSI–January2018• BathwickHillResidentsAssociation–February• SouthStokeLocalHistoryGroup–March• Mayor’sGuides–March• FairfieldHouse– March• CombeDownHeritageSociety–April• MuseumofBathStone-June• ParkinsonsUk-Bath-August• PrimeLuncheonClub-September• TownswomensGuild–January2019• RequestedandTBA– BathwickEstateRA,WilliamHerschelSociety
OutreachtoBusinessClubs,RAs,Schools,Rotary,B&NESSMG&LeadingTogetherteam,staffinductionday?
WorldHeritageDay22ndApril2018andothers…
Norestingonlaurels…• WHSManagementPlan2016-2022• B&NESPolicyplatformuptodate.
CoreStrategy,PlacemakingPlan,StreetscapeManual,etc.
• Only2BuildingsNationalatRiskRegister• RecordnumbersofvisitorstoBath• Successinmajorheritagefundingbids• WorldHeritageInterpretationCentre
withintheexcitingArchwayProject• AsecondWorldHeritagebid
GreatSpasofEurope• However,mustallproceedwithcare……andremember whenthinkingaboutBathmatters
Yourtake-aways
• WorldHeritageinBathissignificant&important…fortheCity,itsresidents,businessesandvisitors
• MoreandbetteruseoftheWHSemblemandpublictalkstoraiseWHSawarenessacrossB&NES
• Trytoanswertheinitialquestion…
“What distinct ‘presence’ would best serve Quaker beliefs and principles at the heart of our World Heritage city?”
…afinalwordfromme
“Wearenotourpast,but(y)ourHeritagemustplayitspartinthefutureofourwonderfulcity,
whethertolive,workorplay”
ProfessorBarryGilbertsonChairman’sOpeningStatementtoWorldHeritageSteeringGroup,July2017aboutthecomplexityofimplementingourWorldHeritageManagementPlan
ü twitter.com/barrygilbertson
ü linkedin.com/in/barrygilbertson
ü www.barrygilbertson.com
Happytotakequestionsnow,orbythesecontacts…
