MANAGING THE WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The status of World Heritage Site (WHS) brings both responsibilities and opportunities, as set out in the World Heritage Convention of 1972. The prime responsibility is to protect and conserve the Site and to transmit it to future generations in at least as good condition, and preferably a better condition, to future generations.
Management Plan
A Management Plan is a requirement for World Heritage Sites from UNESCO and the UK Government.
The Management Plan sets out the policy framework needed to ensure the appropriate management of the WHS, in the form of overarching principles covering planning and conservation issue, access and interpretation and marketing.
We believe that by protecting, conserving and enhancing the universal value of the Hadrian’s Wall WHS it will reinforce cultural distinctiveness, and become a significant driver for economic regeneration and social inclusion.
Management Plan Committee
The Committee meets twice a year and brings together representatives of the organisations and bodies with an interest in the Site. It is collectively responsible for the delivery of the Management Plan, receives reports on progress of the Plan and agrees the development of its programmes and policies.
Management plan timeline
1996 – 2001: The first Management Plan was published in 1996 to provide a framework for the co-ordinated and sustainable management of all aspects of the site.
2002 – 2007: A revised Management Plan was published in 2002.
2008 – 2012: The process is now underway to prepare the 2008 – 2012 Management Plan. The timetable for this edition of the Management Plan is as follows:
January – March 2007: Public Consultation
A discussion paper outlining the issues to be addressed in the new Management Plan for the period 2008 – 2013 was circulated in January 2007. All those organisations and bodies with an interest in the WHS were invited to submit their comments by end March 2007.
March 2007: First stage of Informal Consultation
The first rounds of Interest Groups were held to discuss the responses to the issues arising from the public consultation in early 2007. Members had been invited to take part in this informal consultation process because of their wide ranging experience and expertise rather than as representatives of their organisations.
Autumn 2007 – Spring 2008: Second stage of the Informal Consultation
The Interest Groups were re-grouped to better reflect the concerns of each sector and the membership of each group was reviewed so that the representation of the diverse interests of the WHS was more comprehensive. The new Interest Groups: Planning & Protection, Conservation, Farming & Land Management, Access & Transport and Visitor Facilities, Presentation and Tourism reviewed the emerging draft narrative for the new Management Plan.
A Steering Group comprising of a cross section of the WHS Management Plan Committee has met regularly to consider the various sections of the Management Plan.
1 June – 31 August 2008: Formal consultation
The new draft Management Plan that has been prepared for the WHS for the six-year period 2008 – 2012 will be sent to all those organisations and bodies with an interest in the WHS at the end of May 2008. This Plan will also be available from Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd website at www.hadrians-wall.org
The consultation process period will be for three months from 1st June to 31st August 2008. The timetable for the production of the new Plan is very tight and we would encourage you to send us your response earlier than 31 August if at all possible. It will not be possible to incorporate responses received after this date into the new Plan.
September – October 2008: Management Plan Committee and DCMS sign-off and Publication of the 2008 – 2013 Management Plan
Following a sign-off by the Management Plan Committee and formal endorsement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the new Management Plan will be published mid-October 2008.
