Two North Yorkshire locations to bid for UNESCO World Heritage status
York city centre and the East Atlantic Flyway are being submitted to the judges
Two parts of North Yorkshire are to be submitted to the judges for accreditation as UNESCO World Heritage sites in the latest list to get backing by ministers.
They're supporting the bid to recognise the historic city centre of York - with its Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman heritage.
They are also backing the East Atlantic Flyway - a major migration route for birds - that covers much of England's East Coast including here in North Yorkshire.
Recognition would give the sites the same status as Stonehenge or the Pyramids.
Yorkshire currently has two UNESCO World Heritage locations: the industrial model village of Saltaire near Bradford and North Yorkshire's very own Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.
The Department for Culture Media and Sport says it'll now work with local authorities to submit full bids.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell says, "I am absolutely delighted to see York recognised for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List. This is such an important step for our city to not only celebrate all our cultural assets and past, but to build a visionary plan for our future. To reach the UNESCO criteria will be a significant challenge, but in getting this right, it will bring real opportunity and good quality jobs to York. I particularly want to thank Janet Hopton for her tireless work in taking York’s bid forward.
"Today’s announcement is yet another reminder of the special place that York is. As a city with so much to offer, it is important that everyone is included in this next stage of the project. I very much hope that the project will embrace the creativity and experience of people right across York, from children and young people, through to people who have lived in York through the decades to ensure that the UNSECO project is a truly community led project. There will be need for funding and support from businesses across the city too, so all must come on board to secure York’s true recognition.
Michael Copleston, RSPB England Director, said, "We are absolutely thrilled that the global importance of England’s east coast has been recognised by government and that the east coast wetlands will now be part of the UK’s Tentative List of World Heritage sites. These diverse places provide an essential refuge for over 155 bird species as well as world-leading examples of how we can manage our coastlines in the face of a changing climate, with true value for nature and people."