MP CEMENTS SUPPORT FOR THE BID TO MAKE THE ANTONINE WALL A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

At Scottish Questions in the House of Commons Michael Connarty MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk raised the issue of the bid to make the Antonine Wall a UNESCO World Heritage site. The decision for this bid will be made by the World Heritage Committee competition for this privilege will be held between 2 and 11 July in Quebec Canada and has been greatly supported by the UK Government.

On the floor of the House Michael asked Des Browne MP the Secretary of State for Scotland “What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the nomination of the Antonine wall as a world heritage site?”

Des Browne responded by saying that; “This is a very exciting opportunity for Scotland, which already boasts five world heritage sites. In 2003, the Government endorsed the working up of a formal bid for world heritage status for the Antonine wall, and in 2007 the nomination was submitted to UNESCO as an extension of the frontiers of the Roman Empire transnational world heritage site. As my hon. Friend knows, between 2 and 10 July in Quebec a decision will be made on the bid by the World Heritage Committee.”

Michael replied: “He will know that one third of the Antonine wall runs through Falkirk district, starting from Borrowstouness—or Bo’ness—in my constituency, and passing through Camelon, where the most northerly fort of the Roman empire, Rough castle, is well preserved. Will he join me in praising the work of Falkirk council and, in particular, the chair of the cultural committee, Adrian Mahoney, who has made this his priority for Scotland? Can the Secretary of State assure us that the resources of the UK Government will be put together with the efforts of Falkirk to ensure that this is delivered as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008?”

Des Browne then commended the five councils across Scotland for supporting the bid. He went on to add “I have no difficulty in commending Falkirk council on the work that it has done. In 1999, it secured lottery funding to improve the infrastructure, and it continues to discuss with the Heritage Lottery Fund not only how to exploit the tourism potential, but the restoration and maintenance of the sites, as indeed do other councils. My hon. Friend can rest assured that not only the United Kingdom Government but the Austrian and German Governments, who are also involved in this international bid, will put all the resources necessary behind it to secure this important status.