Awesome aqueduct attains world heritage site status

The journey, which began in the 1999 when it was put on the UK’s list of potential World Heritage Sites, culminated this week in Seville when UNESCO granted Thomas Telford’s masterpiece equal status with the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal and the Acropolis.

The announcement will mean a significant boost for the visitor industry in Wales, as the 11 mile site from Chirk through to the Horseshoe Falls on the River Dee at Llangollen is established to define this unique area.

General manager for British Waterways Wales & Border Counties, Julie Sharman said the award represented a fantastic opportunity to usher in a new era of prosperity for North Wales and the Marches.

”Achieving this status means this wonderful leisure destination has achieved the recognition it deserves and bringing with it opportunities for increased economic prosperity to local communities,” said Ms Sharman.

The bid for World Heritage Site status has seen a strong partnership develop between the bid partners Wrexham Council, British Waterways and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, supported by Denbighshire and Shropshire County Councils, Cadw, and English Heritage.

The partners are ensuring local people continue to be involved as this historic endeavour unfolds with a specially commissioned community focused heritage project. A newly appointed project officer is busy tapping into the knowledge and pride of communities along the 11 mile site to ensure local history and heritage forms a living centrepiece of this shared vision.

All key structures remain intact and the partners are committed to maintaining the highest standards of conservation, while ensuring the site is managed in a way which brings tangible and sustainable benefits to local communities.

The site will be jointly managed by the partners, who will oversee its future and attract inward investment to:

• manage the site and buffer zone in a sustainable manner to conserve, enhance and present the Outstanding Universal Value of the site locally and internationally.
• balance the needs of protection, conservation and access, the interests of the local community and the achievement of sustainable economic growth.
• engage with and deliver benefits to the local communities around the site.
• attract visitors to the area.
• develop opportunities for education and learning.
• generate income, adding value to the local economy or for reinvestment in running the site.