SOUTH LIBDEM FIGHTS FOR NEW LANARK WORLD HERITAGE SITE (Jim Hume)

SOUTH LIBDEM FIGHTS FOR NEW LANARK WORLD HERITAGE SITE

October 24, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, has today called on the Scottish Government to outline measures it will take to safeguard the future of New Lanark World Heritage Site following the recent news a significant block of grant funding, for a critical project upon which the Trust has depended in previous years, is not currently available.

Jim Hume said:

"The news that the significant block of grant funding will now not be available is hugely disappointing and worrying for the New Lanark Trustees who have worked extremely hard over the years to develop and maintain what is a unique world heritage site.

"The significance of the site can be best described in terms of its educational, historic and economic importance. Not only does it provide educational resources for visiting schools and universities, but it is also an excellent tourist attraction and welcomes over 400,000 visitors each year - a huge economic boon for the area.

"Crucial to the ethos of the work behind the New Lanark Village, it successfully sustains a resident community and provides 160 jobs for the local population based on 18th century philanthropist, Robert Owen's, own principles that successful economic development can work hand in hand with workers' welfare and employment rights.

"I believe that the Scottish Government needs to outline measures to safeguard this world heritage site and I shall be seeking urgent assurances that Ministers will do all they can to do just that."

Arthur Bell, Chairman of the New Lanark Trust, added:

"The Trust is grateful for all the interest shown by Jim Hume and other MSPs in this project. It is of world significance and cannot therefore be allowed to be classified as a 'world heritage site in danger'."

ENDS

Note to editors

1. Jim Hume has lodged a Parliamentary Motion calling on the Scottish Government to take action, details below:

That the Parliament notes the educational, historic and economic importance of New Lanark World Heritage Site as one of Scotland's top attraction sites which receives over 400,000 visitors each year; recognises the excellent work carried out by the New Lanark Trust in achieving World Heritage Site status in 2001 following the restoration and development of the New Lanark Village building on the principles of philanthropist Robert Owen's own campaign for a fairer and better society; further recognises the importance of the Trust's work not only in preserving New Lanark as a sustainable community with a resident population, but also in creating new opportunities for employment; deeply regrets the recent lack of grant money available upon which the Trust has been so reliant in previous years; recognises the potential threat this poses for the future of the Trust's work in the continued development of the site; and calls upon the Scottish Government to take the steps necessary to safeguard the future of this educationally, historically and economically vital World Heritage Site.