Britain could see more of its historic landmarks struck off the Unesco world heritage list as “ill-advised developments” threaten their status.
Mechtild Rossler, the head of Unesco’s world heritage centre, issued the warning after Liverpool’s waterfront was removed from the list last week.
The historic docklands in the north-western English city were downgraded because of building developments which, according to Unesco, damaged the authenticity and integrity of the site.
Ms Rossler’s warning came on the day that an English court blocked plans for a road and tunnel project near the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, southern England.
She said the historic value of places such as Stonehenge, which was constructed between 5,000 and 4,000 years ago, should receive more attention when developers submit their building plans.
“The UK has all the policies in place, you have the institutional bodies … and management plans for most of the sites in place,” she told The Guardian.
“However, I have to say sometimes there is ill-advised development … that is a challenge we have everywhere and we have it also in the UK.”
Ms Rossler urged ministers to do everything to preserve the UK’s landmarks and prevent any more from being downgraded.
Britain has 33 sites on the Unesco list, including a slate mining landscape in Wales that was added this week.
Unesco said it offered an “important and remarkable example” of how the Industrial Revolution transformed the Welsh landscape.
Other British sites on the list include the Tower of London, the Roman-era Hadrian’s Wall and the Norman cathedral of Durham in northern England.
Before Friday’s court ruling, Stonehenge was regarded as vulnerable to being placed on Unesco’s “danger list” of landmarks under threat.
Liverpool was added to this list in 2012 but Unesco said developers had gone ahead regardless, with the projects that damaged the city’s heritage.
Ministers gave the go-ahead for a tunnel at Stonehenge last year, despite advice from planning officials that it would cause irreversible harm to the site.
But the plans were halted after a judge ruled the government had failed to fully consider the impact on the site.
He said UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps had also failed to consider alternatives in accordance with the World Heritage Convention.
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Explained
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McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
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The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
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Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
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