The fund was established in 2009, as a partnership between the World Heritage Site Steering Group, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Bath Preservation Trust. It has 3 aims:-
- to initiate and organise minor enhancements to Bath's heritage.
- To assist and encourage others to undertake such work
- to organise volunteers for the same purpose
To date (November 2011) the fund has received around £75,000 from its partners, and has already committed or earmarked about £50,000 on 18 projects. Upon completion, over £250,000 will have been spent on enhancing Bath’s heritage, and four structures will be removed from the Council’s Building at Risk register – reducing Bath register items by 15%. Details of the projects are outlined in the first newsletter. Ideas for further projects, especially those involving the Georgian and Roman heritage on which the World Heritage inscription is based, are always welcome.
We are very grateful for the financial support of our partners.
If you would like further information about the Fund please contact our Administrator Ainslie Ensom at whsef@bptrust.org.uk
Do come and join our volunteers for the 2012 summer season. Details from brendabeeton@yahoo.co.uk
For general World Heritage information, please contact B&NES World Heritage Manager Tony Crouch 01225 477584 tony_crouch@bathnes.gov.uk
The first Bath WHS Management Plan was written in 2003 and updated during the course of 2010. The replacement plan, together with accompanying documents, was delivered from the UK Government to UNESCO on 1 February 2011. This meets the commitments resulting from the 2008 UNESCO/ICOMOS Mission to Bath and the subsequent World Heritage Committee decisions, and ensures that Bath and North East Somerset Council, the 'State Party' and all other partners involved through the Steering Group have delivered what was asked of us, and within the agreed timescale.
The forward timetable is that English Heritage and ICOMOS will assess the plan, and based on their reports the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in late June 2011 is likely to make recommendations which will need to be addressed before formal adoption.
Bath has teamed up with the three other SW World Heritage sites to produce a website making travel between them easier and more environmentally friendly. The new site www.worldheritagesouthwest.org.uk links the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the City of Bath, Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, the Jurassic Coast and Stonehenge and Avebury.
The website helps local residents and tourists to find out how to visit all sites using sustainable transport. A key feature of the site is an interactive transport map, which uses Google Maps to show train, bus and cycle routes. The map also includes itineraries, walks, information about green accommodation and nearby attractions.
The site was developed and financed in partnership with the four sites, supported by South West Tourism.