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Saltaire must draw up careful plan for future or face 'worst case scenario' of losing World Heritage Site status (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Report to Council says village is not being promoted enough, but must strike careful balance
7:00am Saturday 24th November 2012 in News
By Chris Young, T&A Reporter
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David Ford, of Saltaire Traders, says the World Heritage Site cannot “just drift along”
Bradford Council must make more use of the World Heritage Site of Saltaire, a report has warned.
Councillors will next week discuss a management plan for the future of the 19th-century village, which has been a World Heritage Site since 2001, and decide how the authority can further promote the area.
Since Saltaire acquired the rare status, the Council describes the boost in tourism as “marginal” as there has been a failure to promote the area.
A report to the Regeneration and Economy Scrutiny Committee describes how other World Heritage Sites, such as the former Welsh mining town of Blaenavon and the Dorset and East Devon Coast, have been much more successful in “branding and packaging” each area as tourist attractions.
But councillors will also be told that a careful balancing act needs to be found between prioritising Saltaire’s economic potential over its heritage, which runs the “worst case scenario” danger of the site losing its heritage status, or focusing solely on maintaining its heritage, which would rely too much on the tourist economy.
They will be presented with a number of options, including: l not developing a management plan, which could lead to developments that “do not sustain its significance” and would endanger Saltaire’s World Heritage Status.
l developing a plan based on World Heritage objectives only, which could hinder the economic growth of the village l continuing with the current management structure, which would limit improvements l opting for the recommended option of developing an “holistic” plan that “balances world heritage objectives with those of sustainable economic development, including tourism.”
If that management plan is adopted, community groups, businesses and residents will be invited to join together on a steering group to plan Saltaire’s future.
A report to the committee by Julian Jackson, the Council’s assistant director of planning, highways and transportation, does credit the success of projects which include the £4.4 million restoration of Roberts Park and major restoration work to Salts Milll and the United Reformed Church.
But Mr Jackson states: “Many of the projects in the current management plan have been realised, others have not come to fruition and new ones are in development.
“There is scope for providing more opportunities for visitors to learn about the heritage of the village.”
David Ford, a member of Saltaire Traders and owner of Saltaire book shop, welcomed efforts to focus on the future.
He said: “There are things going on, but maybe some of it is not so focused – there are different groups doing different things. They don’t have the power to make any major decisions. We need to pull everything together.
“There is definitely the potential for more than what is happening now.
“We can’t just sit back and let it drift along. It is a good idea to refresh what the status means and pull everything we do together – think where we want to be in 20 years.
“Lots of groups are doing things, but we are let down by a lack of places to do them. You wouldn’t know sometimes that you live in a World Heritage Site. Its benefits aren’t being sold to people.”
The committee meets at Bradford City Hall on Thursday at 5.30pm.
e-mail: chris.young@telegraphandargus.co.uk
Comments(21)
thatsnotmyname
says...
10:30am Sat 24 Nov 12
And where would these new visitors park?
MontyLeMar
says...
10:50am Sat 24 Nov 12
RollandSmoke
says...
11:18am Sat 24 Nov 12
MontyLeMar wrote:Residents were refered to as inmates, what's that tell you?
Forget lack of parking. Saltaire is well served by buses and trains and even the canal. Saltaire was always a drab place especially after Titus built it. Workers were supposed to stay sober, work hard and go to church on Sunday and for that they got a residence and health care that people who lived in the hell-hole called Bradford could only dream of. You've got to strike a careful balance between tacky tourist attractions and keeping the original atmosphere which Titus tried to create.
pockman
says...
12:21pm Sat 24 Nov 12
terryjackman
says...
2:26pm Sat 24 Nov 12
The obvious
says...
2:44pm Sat 24 Nov 12
If you left Bradford council to manage affairs they'd probably build new flats in place of the gorgeous buildings already there. I do not trust the council to flush the toilet let alone promote a historic village. Just look at the promotion of the city centre...yes there is huge hole in it. Bradford council stay out of saltaires affairs as your track record shows you guys are not fit for the purpose.
Strong words but true
RollandSmoke
says...
3:02pm Sat 24 Nov 12
Brannigan
says...
8:03pm Sat 24 Nov 12
watcher22
says...
8:50pm Sat 24 Nov 12
By all means promote it but only to the sort of visitor that would not demand destroying the interesting historical aspect of the area.
Invite Bradford council in to help with great care, look what they have done to the city itself.
Perhaps the shops could get together and advertise. In the adverts include the public transport access, especially the train routes to the area. Advertise along those routes. Also get in touch with the canal boat hire companies along the valley and see if they can come up with any offers. How about canal rides from 5 rise to Saltaire?
Good luck.
Commonsensefirst
says...
10:39pm Sat 24 Nov 12
Uther Pendragon
says...
2:09pm Sun 25 Nov 12
as usual.Leave it to fall into disrepair, and then claim it was beyond economical repair and we have found asbestos the complete village will now need to be demolished and sold to: a private developer/ to build much needed social housing. But as we all know, it would be left as a bomb site like they have done with BFD centre. BFD Council are not fit to do b*ugger all about s*d all!
Uther Pendragon
says...
2:09pm Sun 25 Nov 12
as usual.Leave it to fall into disrepair, and then claim it was beyond economical repair and we have found asbestos the complete village will now need to be demolished and sold to: a private developer/ to build much needed social housing. But as we all know, it would be left as a bomb site like they have done with BFD centre. BFD Council are not fit to do b*ugger all about s*d all!
Uther Pendragon
says...
2:16pm Sun 25 Nov 12
Only ourselves to blame for allowing the Council to be run by someone who looks like he used to work on the Walzers.
More rings in his ears than on my curtains.
loftyme
says...
3:24pm Sun 25 Nov 12
BigFigure
says...
6:44pm Sun 25 Nov 12
Commonsensefirst wrote:you will be pleased to hear that the 2013 Bradford Beer Festival will be held at Victoria Hall at the end of February. Cheers!
I used to visit the Saltaire Festival. There was a real ale bar upstairs in Victoria Hall, where one could leave the building briefly to find some interesting continental food. It was fantastic - the best organised event I ever experienced. Then, the next year it all changed. The beer festival was now miles away in Shipley. One had to walk or wait for a bus. Although ale was available nearby my enjoyment was ruined by this single decision. The exploitation of local artists didn't help. I rarely visit these days.
scanipoos
says...
9:51pm Sun 25 Nov 12
terryjackman wrote:I agree one has only to look at the loss of may iconic buildings in the centre, to see what a mess they've made of things .
The LAST thing Saltaire needs is Bradford Council meddling in its affairs. They need to come and look at it and take that independent shops model back to the City Centre!!
Dont let any of them near the place
Tyke69
says...
10:40pm Sun 25 Nov 12
thatsnotmyname wrote:I live in Saltaire and I agree with this. The majority of tourists only come to visit the mill and locals are already inconvenienced by the coach parties that turn up then park their coaches on residential streets.
Who would benefit the most drom more visitors to Saltaire? Salts Mill of course. Maybe they should stump up some cash to promote the village rather than the tax payer.
And where would these new visitors park?
I think too much emphasis has been placed on exclusive shops that only the well off can afford to shop in. I've always thought more could be done to promote the history of Saltaire, it's a shame part of the mill wasn't turned into a living history museum with original machinery etc.
Albion.
says...
6:28am Mon 26 Nov 12
Tyke69 wrote:Coaches parked on residential streets? There is a drop off point on Caroline Street and the coaches park on Salts Mill Road (outside the village).
thatsnotmyname wrote:I live in Saltaire and I agree with this. The majority of tourists only come to visit the mill and locals are already inconvenienced by the coach parties that turn up then park their coaches on residential streets.
Who would benefit the most drom more visitors to Saltaire? Salts Mill of course. Maybe they should stump up some cash to promote the village rather than the tax payer.
And where would these new visitors park?
I think too much emphasis has been placed on exclusive shops that only the well off can afford to shop in. I've always thought more could be done to promote the history of Saltaire, it's a shame part of the mill wasn't turned into a living history museum with original machinery etc.
Bone_idle18
says...
1:09pm Mon 26 Nov 12
Albion.
says...
1:41pm Mon 26 Nov 12
Bone_idle18 wrote:Exactly, me too.
you know what would attract me to visit more, an Archimedes Screw turbine on the weir :)
Joedavid says...
10:05am Sat 24 Nov 12
If there are things to attract then they should be promoted but if a big number attending thing where would they park?
One thing that was featured quite a bit a year or two back in the T&A a few times was the installation of a Wurlitzer theatre organ. Now there is silence on it, does it get used? Can public hear it, when I enquired I got the impression there is a club for organ enthusiasts that control it.
So do not understand with it being in a public hall why it not a public thing. Maybe the Council should consider moving it to the Pictureville cinema or the New Victoria/Odeon when restored.