EEC/06/167/HQ Executive 17 October 2006 Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Report of the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture Please note that the following recommendations are subject to consideration and determination by the Executive (and confirmation under the provisions of the Council’s Constitution) before taking effect. Recommendation: It is recommended that the Executive: (a) welcomes the inscription of the World Heritage Site (WHS), and the successful submission of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project for funding through European Objective 2 and Heritage Lottery funds; (b) supports the principle that Morwellham Quay should be one of the key sites for interpretation facilities for the World Heritage Site, and takes steps to ensure that this status can be secured; (c) welcomes the project for development of off-road walking and cycling trails linking mining remains in the West Devon part of the WHS and supports a significant contribution from the Local Transport Plan to a grade-separated crossing of the A390; (d) supports acquisition of the former railway track bed between Bere Alston and Tavistock and its use as a walking/cycling route whilst safeguarding its potential for future rail re-opening; (e) indicates to West Devon Borough Council the County Council's readiness to discuss the scope for future interpretation facilities in Tavistock following the failure of the visitor orientation centre proposal to attract external funding. 1. Summary This report identifies the opportunities for conservation, interpretation and recreation following the inscription of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Heritage Landscape as a World Heritage Site (WHS), and sets out actions for Devon County Council. 2. Background West Devon has a rich heritage stemming particularly from mining activity during the 18th and 19th Centuries for minerals such as copper and arsenic. Remains of this mining activity have survived with relatively little disruption in West Devon thanks to continuity in land ownership. The importance of the mining techniques developed in Cornwall and West Devon, and their subsequent use in many other parts of the world, was recognised in summer 2006 by the inscription of Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape as a World Heritage Site. The WHS designation covers ten geographical areas, nine in Cornwall and one for the Tamar Valley and Tavistock. However, the area in West Devon is a particularly important part of the whole WHS as the remains are very well preserved, especially at Morwellham, making it one of the key WHS locations. Separately, and in parallel with the World Heritage Site nomination, the Tamar Valley AONB service has been developing the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project for major funding packages to invest in preservation and interpretation of the mining landscape in West Devon. The European Objective 2 Funding bid has been successful in achieving an award of £1.2m towards an overall £6m package, which has recently attracted £2.3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The aim of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project is to improve the accessibility and conservation of the mining landscape, so as to enable it to be enjoyed by more visitors, and so that it can contribute to the regeneration of the local economy, through increased employment and tourism expenditure. The key elements of the Mining Heritage Project include: • improvements at Morwellham Quay; • works to the mining remains at Devon Great Consols, as well as nature habitat works; • provision of trails and car parks at Bedford and Russell Mines; • protection of the chimneys and other mine works at Gawton; • improvements to access along the Tavistock Canal and on the former railway linking Tavistock to the mining areas; • new education, training and interpretation facilities throughout the Valley. Hitherto, much of the former mining landscape has not been easily available for enjoyment by the general public. The new proposals involve providing public access through a series of trails for walking and cycling, partly making use of the routes of the former tramways, which were used to transport the mining ores from the mines to the transhipment wharfs on the River Tamar. The proposals also involve interpretation facilities at the sites of former mine workings, and a major upgrade of interpretation facilities at Morwellham. For over thirty years there has been a visitor attraction at Morwellham, operated by an independent Trust, but visitor numbers have declined significantly (70,000 in 2005, compared with 150,000 per year in the 1980’s). Unfortunately a proposal for a Visitor Orientation Centre at Market Road in Tavistock has not been successful in attracting adequate external funding. Following a public meeting in Tavistock earlier this month, it is understood that the scope for a revised visitor facilities scheme will now be assessed by West Devon Borough Council in partnership with Tavistock Town Council. In view of the significance of Tavistock in the World Heritage Site, it would be appropriate for the County Council to indicate its readiness to join discussions on this issue. 3. Issues for Devon County Council (a) Morwellham Quay Morwellham Quay is one of the major industrial attractions within the WHS, and the key one in Devon. It is vitally important to ensure that Morwellham realises its full potential as an interpretation centre for the World Heritage Site. In particular, it is important that it delivers: • Conservation of the historic environment. • Accessibility (in all senses, physical – for those of all ages and abilities, affordable and available). • Quality of visitor experience, as befits a World Heritage Site. It has been difficult in recent years to ensure delivery of all these attributes, under the existing independent Trust structure. This situation is currently under review. It is recommended that the County Council should use its position to ensure that Morwellham is able to fulfil its strategic role in the future, including the potential for County Council investment alongside the funds which are being drawn down from Objective 2 and Heritage Lottery Funding. (b) Mining Trails As noted above, the Mining Heritage Project involves creation of off-road trails linking the different mining sites so as to create a walking and cycling network. It also involves provision of car parks linked to these trails. The trails will effectively form permissive paths, using former tramway routes. One particular issue is posed where the main north-south trail crosses the A390 Tavistock to Gunnislake road. At this point the tramway formerly passed beneath the A390, but the tunnel structure has been filled in. Structural investigations have shown that it cannot just be re-excavated owing to its deteriorated condition. In the Devon Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 there is provision within the Sustainable Tourism programme for a sum of £50,000, which is the equivalent cost of providing an at- grade crossing on the A390, but this is clearly not the most appropriate solution. It is preferable on safety and environmental grounds to construct a replacement underpass beneath the A390, which would have a total cost of some £600,000. It is suggested that this should be considered as a partnership project, and that the Local Transport Plan contribution be increased to some £200,000, with matching funding coming from sources such as Objective 2/Heritage Lottery Fund. (c) The Former Railway Track Bed – Bere Alston to Tavistock The Mining Heritage Project also includes provision for creating a walking and cycling route along the former railway track bed between Bere Alston and Tavistock. This would help create a sustainable transport access route to the former mining area, enabling cycling into the area from the station at Bere Alston, on the Plymouth to Gunnislake rail service. However, this corridor is also, separately, being considered for potential re-introduction of the railway between Bere Alston and Tavistock under the Community Rail pilot. Surveys to investigate potential rail patronage have been conducted in recent months, and an initial report is expected shortly. If the outcome were to be positive then the next stage would be a business case evaluation for the potential rail re-opening. A question has been posed as to whether Devon County Council, or Sustrans the environmental charity, should take ownership of that part of the former railway track bed which is currently owned by the Department for Transport. As noted above, the community rail studies are ongoing, and even if a positive business case could be made it is unlikely that re-introduction of the railway could commence in the near future. It is suggested that ownership of the former railway track bed should be held by the County Council, to protect the potential for rail re-opening, but that in the meantime the route be leased to Sustrans, to enable the creation of a walking and cycling route along the track bed. This would be done in such a way as not to prejudice future rail use. 4. Financial Considerations The achievement of more than £6m external funding for the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Heritage Landscape provides a major opportunity to support the tourism economy, to conserve the historic environment, and to provide recreation for residents and visitors. This external funding is contingent on matched funding from local partners, including the County Council's contribution of £60,000 per annum from 2005/06 to 2008/09. This funding is included in the core revenue budget. Specific Local Transport Plan funding is required for the A390 underpass, and as indicated in 3(b) above it is proposed that the contribution from the Sustainable Tourism programme be increased to some £200,000, to be made in the 2007/08 programme. As indicated in 3(a) there may also be a need for financial involvement to ensure that Morwellham can fulfil its role as a major interpretation centre for the WHS.