UN team happy with Bath heritage
International heritage watchdogs are today expected to say they are happy with the way Bath’s historic heart is being looked after.
And they will back controversial plans for the first phase of the redevelopment of the city’s Western Riverside zone.
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The report of a two-man delegation which inspected the city last year on behalf of cultural body Unesco is being published today.
Council chiefs believe the inspectors’ four-page report gives policies for safeguarding the appearance of Bath - one of only two entire cities to be given World Heritage Site status - “a clean bill of health.”
The report, which is being discussed by a UN World Heritage Committee meeting this week, will however call for revised plans to be drawn up for the second and third phases of the Western Riverside development, and for key blueprints about the city’s future to be checked with Unesco’s World Heritage Centre.
The document will also say that more needs to be done to protect the “views to and from” the city, and that future developments “which could have an adverse and cumulative impact” on the landscape around Bath should be prevented.
The three-day fact-finding mission was sparked by concern over the consequences of the 2,200-home Western Riverside development and aimed to check that the whole city was being cared for.
But the duo concluded that the World Heritage Site was “very well managed” and that all major buildings and landmarks were in a “very good state of conservation and being closely monitored.”
Their report will say the height of the planned Western Riverside first phase is acceptable, concluding that even the eight-storey blocks planned by developer Crest would be no more intrusive than the existing gasometers.
Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Cllr Francine Haeberling (Con, Saltford) said: “The report gives a very open and extremely positive account of the way in which the World Heritage Site is managed. The council was certain of an excellent outcome and is pleased there is no threat to the World Heritage Site status of Bath, nor has there ever been.
“The council takes its guardianship of the World Heritage Site seriously and regards it as an inspiration to the city’s future.”
Concern over the Western Riverside and recent decisions to approve controversial schemes such as the extension to the Holburne Museum had led some conservationists and architectural commentators to claim that the city’s world heritage status should be removed.
Council director for tourism, leisure and culture David Lawrence said the authority was prepared to have a “robust” debate about heritage matters.
But he said: “What has been disappointing has been the constant negative side that has been raised. I don’t think some people recognise the wider damage to Bath that they do.”
The Bath Preservation Trust says the delegation’s views on the city’s green setting were highly important in the light of plans for the Bathampton Meadows park and ride site and the Government’s plans for 21,300 new homes across B&NES.
Chief executive Caroline Kay said: "We think that Unesco has rightly targeted the landscape setting , one of the outstanding universal values of the World Heritage Site, as a part of Bath which is vulnerable to inappropriate development. This is timely, and urgent; currently Bath is at risk from losing part of the green belt to a park and ride on the east of the city over water meadows, and an urban extension to the south west, each of which threaten to ‘suburbanise’ the essential rural hinterland which surrounds the Georgian city.
"We think the council should have made more of a commitment in its local development plan to the World Heritage Site by including Special Planning Documents (SPDs) on the landscape setting and the historic environment and we feel this would be a good first step in responding to the draft decision from Unesco.
‘We agree with the Unesco committee that the second and third phases of the Western Riverside should be reviewed and include revised densities and volumes of buildings. We continue to have reservations about Phase 1 of Western Riverside. In relation to architectural commissioning, we agree that in order to succeed in Bath, any contemporary design must be of the highest quality."
But the council says the park and ride proposals were presented in full to the inspectors.
A spokesman said: “The council’s transport proposals will enhance the World Heritage Site status of Bath because they will help reduce traffic congestion and improve the local environment.”
Unesco has recommended that an architectural competition be held to find designs for the subsequent phases of the Western Riverside.
It wants to see a "re-division of masses and heights of the buildings ....... which could give a new impact to the appearance of the project and so as not to add a new barrier within the northern and southern parts of the city."
The council said the later phases involved land not currently controlled by Crest.
A spokesman said: "It has always been likely that other developers will become involved as the scheme progresses. It is of course open to any developer to use different architects from time to time to work on individual parts of a development project."
You can read what Unesco said here
http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Unesco-said/article-1111343-detail/article.html
63 Comments
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by Kirsten, Bath
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 4:32PM
“It wsn't just black people that "dear old" - or should that be "disgusting old" - Alf Garnett derided - it was women as well. I always found Johnny Speight's protestations that he was sending all this up a bit odd - so I cheered like mad when I heard a black woman being interviewed on the radio say she didn't believe him for a moment - that she thought he was sexist and racist himself. My opinion precisely. For once I think Anil and I agree. Alf Garnett was not funny - his sentiments were deeply unpleasant and Speight legitimised such views.”
by JM, Bath
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 1:58PM
“OK, time to go......Anil's got his black and white hat on, complete with matching shoulder chip!”
by anil, island gardens
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 9:44AM
“JM, it doesn't matter what hue the people are - in my experience, racism isn't always colour-based.
Johnny Speight's creation didn't do much for people from other cultures. I didn't find it funny when i was knocked down to the ground, kicked in the face and spat on with a torrent of racial abuse, much like the type Alf Garnett spouted. On the plus side, the no 44 bus arrived in minutes, so I got to the nearest police station and began the pointless exercise of making a complaint and so on.
Not sure what happened to my 2 attackers. They were never arrested. I hope they encountered premature scrotum rot or had similar treatment from black or asian communities. Interestingly, the 44, now run by Go Ahead Northern London General, together with its companion route N44, provides a 24 hour service at a 10 -15 minute frequency. Unesco approval or not, bath is at least a 100 years away from providing decent public transport.”
by JM, Bath
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 8:52AM
“""The "ig" phrase just sums up pointless british racist attitudes and lack of imagination""
.Anil, I think you will find that Alf's wife said it to him and they were both white, as it happens!”
by anil, island gardens aka ig
Tuesday, June 30 2009, 7:36AM
“Thank you JM. Usually, a sub or editor will correct spelling and grammer. Also, given english is my SECOND language, I don't think I do a bad job!
As for grammer, mixing tenses is part of starting something in the middle. for example, if I was to rewrite Red Riding Hood, I'd start :"....Grandma has definitely overdosed on the steriods..." thought RR Hood. "I don't remember seeing such big ears or vicious looking teeth before....." rather than the "once upon a time" approach. I know my children used to love the reworked stories.
The "ig" it stands for Island Gardens; I live near there some of the time. I have stated it fully on occasion. Yes, I remember Alf Garnett's character. It was supposed to be funny and a spoof. If you were an Asian person living in 1970s east London, then this was neither as you faced daily attacks and racial abuse. In 2009, if you are an Asian living in east london, you'll be very successful,so unlikely to be treated that way or be tolerant of it. The "ig" phrase just sums up pointless british racist attitudes and lack of imagination. I didn't find "till death do us part" funny at any point.
Regarding Bath's public transport, It's obvious to many that it is several decades out of date. Pointless fuss is made about PT in the southwest, but in the end you get the meaures and it works for everyone's benefit. East bristol's bus priorities are a good example; the only flaw is First running it. That can be sorted by a metropolitan transport authority which looks at the entire southwest, not as local authorities, who don't see beyond their boundaries. I'm frequently criticised for suggesting 'London-type' transport solutions for Bath. I travel on a bus or train - sometimes both and other modes of public transport- everyday. I also use public transport in many parts of the UK. From experience I know that Transport for London runs the best integrated system in the whole country. I don't see any reason why Bath shouldn't have a similar, successful system. But you don't get it by moaning about or opposing every measure that's proposed.”
by SL, PSJ
Monday, June 29 2009, 9:56AM
“Unfortunately not all heading for the Seaside Sam.”
by JM, Bath
Sunday, June 28 2009, 12:15PM
“SAM, I think you will find that is the M4!”
by Sam, Bath
Sunday, June 28 2009, 11:55AM
“Traffic going to the south coast should be made to come off at junction 17 on the M5. They can then drive along the A350 and pass Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge. All of these towns have by-passes - but many car and lorry drivers come off at junction 18 of the M5 which means they have to go through Bath - and cause misery and congestion for the people of Bath.”
by PJ, Batheaston
Saturday, June 27 2009, 5:08PM
“Well said Moe - clear messages for anybody 'doubting' what the BTP represents.
The question "where will the congestion charge boundary be applied in such a small city?" could also be added.”
by Moe, Bath
Saturday, June 27 2009, 4:25PM
“By the way, I agree with Anil to the extent that that the bus service in the city is positively Victorian in its design. Go to any bigger city and the buses are cheaper, more frequent, more reliable, don't take such tortuously inefficient routes through housing estates, and people generally know how to get on and off much quicker.”