Next steps revealed for Antonine Wall World Heritage bid

Responding to a question from Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie, the Scottish Executive has revealed its plans for securing World Heritage Site status for the Antonine Wall.

"The decision on whether to accept the nomination of the Antonine Wall, and the other 'Frontiers of the Roman Empire'," said Cathy, "will be taken in summer 2008, by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, after the nomination and the management plan for the site have been evaluated.

"These will be checked by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris, following which detailed examination will be undertaken by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises UNESCO on potential cultural World Heritage Sites.

"Historic Scotland is coordinating the establishment of a management group for the site involving key stakeholders, in order to prepare for the ICOMOS site visit and the subsequent management of the site."

In her answer, Minister Patricia Ferguson said that "the outstanding universal values of the proposed site as well as its authenticity and integrity will be assessed by an ICOMOS evaluator, who will visit the site in summer 2007. Checks will also be made to ensure that the necessary protection and management structures are in place.

"If ICOMOS requires further information this must be requested from the UK government by 31 January 2008. The UK government will then have until 31 March 2008 to submit further information for consideration. Once ICOMOS have made their evaluation, the UK government will have one final opportunity to highlight any factual errors in the evaluation before the World Heritage Committee makes its decision on the nomination at its meeting in July 2008."

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