Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Management Plan 2011 -2016
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BLAENAVON WORLD HERITAGE SITE Management Plan 2011-2016 www.visitblaenavon.co.uk Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site Management Plan 2011 -2016 Including Review Of Period 1999-2010 1 ii Blaenavon World Heritage Site Management Plan 2011 - 2016 Foreword The process of seeking World Heritage Site status and the responsibility of protecting and promoting the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape has been a continuing challenge; however we are delighted with the progress that has been made. Everything the original World Heritage Site Management Plan set out to achieve in October 1999 and indeed much more has been realised and we have seen real change for the better in the fortune of the area. This has been made possible through effective partnership and the hard work of many individuals. This World Heritage Site Management Plan for the period 2011 - 2016 aims to build on what has been achieved and ensure Blaenavon continues to be an exemplar in heritage led regeneration. Councillor Bob Wellington, Leader, Torfaen County Borough Council, Chairman of Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership This Plan has been prepared by Torfaen County Borough Council on behalf of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership. iii Vision Statement “The prime aim of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership is to protect this cultural landscape so that future generations may understand the outstanding contribution South Wales made to the Industrial Revolution. By the presentation and promotion of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, it is intended to increase cultural tourism, provide educational opportunities and change perceptions of the area to assist economic regeneration.” Blaenavon Ironworks August 1798 – the engraving was made from a drawing by Sir Richard Colt Hoare and appeared in William Coxe’s ‘An Historical Tour of Monmouthshire’, (1801) iv Contents Executive Summary PART 1 Management Responsibilities and Description of the Site 1.1 The Need for the Plan 1.2 The Scope and Status of the Plan 1.3 Methodology and Data Sources 1.4 The Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership PART 2 Description of the Site and Values 2.1 Description of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape 2.2 Historical Development 2.3 Outstanding Universal Value 2.4 Key Values and Qualities of the Site 2.5 Conservation Status & Statutory Responsibilities 2.6 Maps identifying main features of the World Heritage Site PART 3 Issues 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Management Arrangements 3.3 Preservation of Character 3.4 Access and Visitor Management 3.5 Coal reserves and potential for recovery 3.6 Integration with other strategies, policies and plans 3.7 Information Management 3.8 Risk Management PART 4 Management Aims and Objectives 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Primary Aim 4.3 Objectives PART 5 Site Management Proposals 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership Structure 5.3 Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership - Terms of Reference 5.4 Individuals Attractions – Management Proposals 5.5 Schedules of Projects Bibliography: Selected Reading PART 6 Appendices Appendix 1: Review: The First Ten Years & Lessons Learned Appendix 2: Draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value Appendix 3: Wider Policy Context Relevant to the Management Plan v vi Executive Summary In December 2000 the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape was inscribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a orldW Heritage Site. World Heritage Sites are inscribed on the basis that they are of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. It was recognised by UNESCO that: “The area around Blaenavon bears eloquent and exceptional testimony to the pre-eminence of South Wales as the world’s major producer of iron and coal in the nineteenth century. It is a remarkably complete example of a nineteenth century landscape”. Extract from ICOMOS report to the World Heritage Committee November 2000 The management of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site is undertaken by the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership comprised of the following organisations: ● Torfaen County Borough Council (Lead Authority) ● Monmouthshire County Council ● Brecon Beacons National Park Authority ● Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council ● Blaenavon Town Council ● Cadw ● Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales ● Museums Wales ● Countryside Council for Wales ● Department of Economy & Transportation (Wales Government) ● British Waterways The primary aim of the Partnership, as set out in this plan is: “The prime aim of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership is to protect this cultural landscape so that future generations may understand the outstanding contribution South Wales made to the Industrial Revolution. By the presentation and promotion of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, it is intended to increase cultural tourism, provide educational opportunities and change perceptions of the area to assist economic regeneration.” The UNESCO World Heritage Committee states that all World Heritage Sites must have an appropriate management system in place which should specify how the ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ (OUV), authenticity and integrity of the site should be maintained. To vii this end, this Management Plan, for the period 2011-2016, has been prepared by the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership. This Management Plan seeks to continue to build upon the success that has already been achieved through the implementation of the original Management Plan prepared as part of the nomination process for seeking World Heritage Site status in 1999. There has been notable success in implementing the original Management Plan. The majority of projects and initiatives included within it have been achieved and the project as a whole is widely recognised in the UK as an exemplar in the field of how heritage can drive forward economic regeneration. The Plan sets out the key values and qualities of the Site and identifies and addresses the key issues that might affect them during the Plan period. An overall vision for the Site is identified together with key management objectives to be met to achieve effective management for the next five years. Specific projects and activities to be explored and delivered by all partners over the Plan period are identified, together with likely phasing and possible sources of funding. A review of the first ten years of World Heritage Site status has also been undertaken which considers success to date and reflects upon lessons learnt. The Plan has been the subject of extensive partner and public consultation and will be kept under review by the Partnership and its members. The Plan is advisory in nature, aiming to set a strategy framework for management and to help co-ordinate the actions of all involved. The Plan aims to ensure that the objectives and proposals identified apply the principles of sustainability to all aspects of the inscribed World Heritage Site. The Plan aims to reinforce the broad vision of the quality, significance, condition and potential of the site and to ensure that this vision is widely accepted and acted upon to enhance the understanding and preservation of the values of the site. viii Part 1 Management Responsibilities and PART 1 PART Description of the Site View from west, looking towards Blaenavon © Crown Copyright: RCAHMW 1. Management Responsibilities and Description of the Site 1.1 The Need for the Plan A Management Plan is required in order to satisfy the United Kingdom’s obligations under UNESCO World Heritage Convention which states that all World Heritage Sites must have an appropriate management system in place which should specify how the ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ (OUV), authenticity and integrity of the site should be maintained. To this end, this Management Plan, for the period 2011-2016, has been prepared by the Blaenavon World Heritage Site Partnership. The Plan has been widely consulted upon and approved by all partners as the basis for the protection and promotion of the World Heritage Site for the next five years. The land within the World Heritage Site is subject to a range of pressures from development and tourism, changing agricultural practices, natural decay, vandalism and other factors. If these pressures are not monitored and managed, they may irreversibly damage the archaeological monuments, historic buildings and landscape setting of Blaenavon. In Blaenavon, there is a particular need for co-ordination between agencies and owners by way of a set of principles and policies to ensure continuity in the long term management of the area. However, the Plan relates to a dynamic, living landscape which contains many legitimate competing interests and values, and it is important that it should preserve and enhance the archaeological and cultural values of the landscape while accepting necessary change for those who have interest in or live within the area. 1.2 The Scope and Status of the Plan The Management Plan offers an overall framework of objectives, but is not a statutory document. However it is intended that the main principles of the Management Plan can be encapsulated in relevant formal plans. It introduces no new powers, nor does it diminish the responsibility of any agency or individual. In advising and informing, the Plan will act as a catalyst for various management initiatives to be implemented. The Plan will continue to be enhanced, and will inform and respond to other policies and management proposals relating to the area. 1.3 Methodology and Data Sources The Plan aims to continue and consolidate