Historic New Lanark could be made into a World Heritage Site if a formal submission to UNESCO is successful.
In July last year, Historic Scotland (on behalf of the Scottish Executive) made the bid for recognition to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The submission sought to justify the 'universal significance' of New Lanark as it:
- played a key role in industrial and social change: Owenism, Utopianism, co-operation, communitarianism, industrial capitalism, concepts of the sublime landscape and models for conservation partnerships were all shaped at New Lanark;
- was the model for other industrial communities; was advanced for its day in technical developments in heating ventilation and industrial equipment; and provided a blueprint for the world's architects and town planners for 'managed' planning;
- is beautifully preserved and has the most complete architectural design of all early cotton mill settlements: New Lanark's mills were on such a large scale that 'modern' systems of manufacturing, management structure and class relations were able to be developed there.
If successful, it will make New Lanark one of only four World Heritage Sites in Scotland - the others are St Kilda, Orkney and the Old/New Towns of Edinburgh - and catapult its fame onto the world stage.
Councillor Eddie McAvoy, leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: "We eagerly await UNESCO's decision on New Lanark.
"We firmly believe the village should receive this recognition because it played such an important part in the Industrial Revolution. David Dale and Robert Owen were years ahead of their time when they built and developed New Lanark. They put a great emphasis on education and the community and their work in this area should be recognised.
"Apart from its historical and educational importance, the village itself is a major tourist attraction in South Lanarkshire. We are all very proud of it and hope to encourage more people to come and visit."
Jim Arnold, director of New Lanark Conservation Trust said: "It is especially appropriate that this tiny South Lanarkshire village should become a focus of international attention at this time. Robert Owen actually talked a lot about the new Millennium 200 years ago and looked forward to it with optimism and confidence.
"He believed that society could exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved and intelligence and happiness hugely increased. He said the key to achieving this was education and a healthy living and working environment. It is amazing that his ideas should still be so relevant today.
"We are delighted that New Lanark is able to attract visitors from all over the world, but also that it continues as a living, working community as Dale and Owen would have wished."
South Lanarkshire Council is a major partner and funder of the New Lanark Trust. Officials and Councillors are members of the Trust Board. That is why representatives from the Council also met with assessors from UNESCO's International Committee on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) visited New Lanark in November last year. The assessors looked at all aspects of the submission including the physical site as well as the Trust's policies and management. A decision is expected to be made by ICOMOS June this year and, finally, by UNESCO in November 2001.
Business South Lanarkshire - Spring 2001
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