Management Plan
A Management Plan 2005-2010 has been prepared for inclusion in the nomination to UNESCO. The Management Plan follows an accepted format beginning by establishing a Vision for the World Heritage Site, followed by a series of aims, objectives and actions in pursuit of this Vision:The Management Plan expands on issues covered briefly in the Nomination Document and will provide a handbook for the Partners.
 

AONB
Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was designated in 1959 and covers 12 distinct areas comprising 958 sq km. The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was designated in 1995 and is split into two areas (Tamar-Tavy area and the Lynher area) covering 190 sq km.

Scheduled Monuments
Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, 148 Scheduled Monuments have been designated within the nominated Site. At the commencement of the World Heritage Site Bid a commitment was made by the English Heritage Monuments Protection Programme to prioritise the scheduling of mine sites and mine related structures within the proposed Bid areas in Cornwall and West Devon. A shortlist of local sites has been compiled which targets those of greatest national importance that are most under threat from neglect or development pressures. Twenty sites have been considered since May 2003, and scheduling proposals recently submitted include the Robinson’s Shaft complex at South Crofty, Geevor Mine in Pendeen, the East Pool Whim and Taylor’s Shaft engines at Pool, and the New Sump Shaft complex at Dolcoath in Pengegon. Others that have been deferred pending the completion of site consolidation works include the Botallack Mine and calciner, and the Kenidjack Arsenic Works.

Listed Buildings
There are 358 Listed Buildings designated under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, within the nominated Site that are recorded within the listing description to have been directly linked to mining or an associated industry or activity.

Registered Parks & Gardens
The national Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest maintained by English Heritage includes three gardens within the nominated Site at Godolphin, Carclew and Cotehele.

Conservation Areas
33 Conservation Areas have been designated locally under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 principally around historic mining settlements to protect and conserve their special character and interest. The Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative has resulted in proposals for additional and amended Conservation Areas within 29 mining settlements, which are being implemented as resources allow.

RIGS
Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) are sites of geological or geomorphological interest (excluding sites of national importance designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest), that are considered worthy of protection for their education, research, historical or aesthetic importance. These sites display evidence for the earth’s formation and transformation through rocks, minerals, fossils and landforms. Few areas within the United Kingdom contain a comparable wealth of geological heritage as Cornwall and West Devon. RIGS are selected by the Cornwall and Devon RIGS Groups. There are 23 RIGS within the nominated Site in Cornwall. As a result of recent survey work, eight RIGS have been identified within the Devon section of the nominated Site, six of which are mine sites. Protection for RIGS comes through policies in both the Cornwall and Devon Mineral Plans.

The Valetta Convention
In order to better understand and protect the common historic heritage of Europe, the member States of the Council of Europe and the other States party to the European Cultural Convention signatory drew up the Valetta Convention (The European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Revised)) in 1992. The convention consists of 18 Articles which define the common archaeological heritage, set out measures for its protection, guarantee the scientific significance of archaeological research work, provide for public financial support for archaeological research, encourage the dissemination of the results of that research, promote awareness of the importance of the historic heritage, seek to prevent the illicit circulation of artefacts and encourage international co-operation and scientific assistance. The Convention stresses the agreement of the member states that the archaeological heritage was both essential to a knowledge of the history of mankind and at the same time increasingly at risk. It identified a need for the protection of the archaeological heritage to be reflected in town and country planning and cultural development policies.

The Nara Document on Authenticity builds on the Charter of Venice, 1964 and recognises that in a world undergoing increasing globalisation and homogenisation the search for cultural identify can sometimes be pursued through aggressive nationalism and the suppression of the cultures of minorities. All cultures and societies are rooted in tangible and intangible expression which constitute their heritage and these should be respected. It is essential that authenticity is achieved in conservation practice to illuminate the collective memory of humanity.

European Union Directive on the management of waste from the extractive industries. In 2003 the European Commission adopted a proposal for an EU Directive on the management of waste from the extractive industries (i.e. mining and quarrying). The proposal seeks to prevent or reduce, as far as possible, any adverse effects on the environment, and any resultant risks to human health, brought about as a result of the management of waste from the extractive industries. One element of this Directive may be the need to compile an inventory of sites, although the Directive appears to be directed to new mining sites rather than past or historic sites provided there is no danger to health. Concerns about the possible effects of the Directive on the historic environment have been raised by English Heritage with representatives in the United Kingdom government who are currently assessing its impact.

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Listed Buildings: under this legislation the government maintains a list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, and operates a Listed Building Consent process to control works which affect them.

Conservation Areas: under this legislation local authorities can designate areas of historical or architectural importance. The legislation places a duty on local planning authorities to identify the special qualities and formulate proposals for the conservation and enhancement of Conservation Areas, informally known as Conservation Area Statements.

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO): permitted development rights allow certain types of minor and uncontentious development to proceed without the need for a planning application, since planning permission for them is deemed to be granted. Under the GPDO, Article 4 Directions can be issued by the local planning authority to restrict some permitted development rights, and are typically used to control minor alterations in Conservation Areas. Article 7 Directions allow the mineral planning authority to remove permitted development rights for removal of mineral working deposits where it is on land within an AONB or site of archaeological interest. However, the payment of compensation hampers the use of this power. The United Kingdom government has recently commissioned a study (Nathaniel Lichfield 2003) into the effectiveness of the GPDO.

Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a procedure that must be followed for certain types of development before they are granted development consent. The requirement for EIA comes from a European Directive and the procedure requires the developer to compile an Environmental Statement (ES) describing the likely significant effects of the development on the environment and proposed mitigation measures. The need for an ES, or whether the proposed development is deemed to fall within the Schedules triggering ES, is determined by a Screening Opinion sought from the Local Planning Authority or other competent authority. The content is agreed under a Scoping Opinion sought from the Local Planning Authority. It is common for the impact on historic environment to be examined by an ES. The ES must be circulated to statutory consultation bodies and made available to the public for comment. Its contents, together with any comments, must be taken into account by the competent authority before it may grant consent.

The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 established procedure for the creation of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This was strengthened by The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000, which intended to facilitate greater public access to the countryside, including placing a duty on local authorities to produce management plans for AONBs and the local authority’s duty to establish an independent Local Access Forum (LAF) that will advise a county council on its Rights of Way Improvement Plans.

Guidance on government planning policy is contained in a series of Planning Policy Guidance Notes, now being superseded by Planning Policy Statements. Guidance on the proposed new Regional Spatial Strategies is given in draft PPS11. Guidance on the proposed new Local Development Frameworks is given in draft PPS12.

PPG 15 This guidance provides a full statement of United Kingdom government policies for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas, and other elements of the historic environment, explains the role played by the planning system in their protection and treatment as a material consideration in development proposals. PPG15 complements the guidance on archaeology and planning given in PPG16 to ensure effective protection for all aspects of the historic environment, and encourages local planning authorities to ensure that they have appropriately qualified specialist advice on any development which, by its character or location, might be held to have an adverse effect on the historic environment. PPG15 specifically refers to World Heritage Site in paragraphs 2.2.2-3 as follows:

Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic
Interest: Parks and Gardens included within this national register maintained by English Heritage are not subject to additional statutory controls. However PPG15 guides planning authorities to take account of the need to protect registered parks and gardens when preparing development plans and in determining planning applications. The Register acts as guidance to local authorities on those parks and gardens deemed to be of national importance and most needy of protection.

• acting as the first level of consultation with key stakeholders

• considering recommendations from the Area Panels and Officer Working Group

• receiving progress reports from the World Heritage Site Bid Team and steering its activities

• scrutinising bid documentation prior to wider consultation

The Partnership established six Area Panels based on the relevant District Council administrative areas in Cornwall and West Devon to advise it on appropriate boundaries for the individual bid areas. The Officer Working Group is comprised of staff from the local authorities and other key organisations including the National Trust, Cornwall and Tamar Valley AONBs and English Heritage, to oversee production of the bid documentation on its behalf. Administrative and treasury functions are provided by Cornwall County Council, which co-ordinates the activities of the Partnership and employed the World Heritage Site Bid team, and is establishing the World Heritage Site Office. The Office will be responsible to the Partnership for delivery of the bid documents and the implementation of the Management Plan on its behalf. Its core management functions will be to co-ordinate action, monitoring and evaluation across the proposed World Heritage Site and to report the results to the Partnership. Should World Heritage Site inscription be awarded, the composition and remit of the Bid Partnership will be reviewed and developed to create the management structure most appropriate for the effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Management Plan.

All of these strategies are of relevance to the World Heritage Site Vision and Aims. There are also management plans and conservation plans for specific landscapes, monuments or projects, with more to be carried out.

The World Heritage Site Office has been successful at integrating the proposed World Heritage Site into many existing agreed plans by way of planning consideration, economic contribution, tourism strength, cultural significance and heritage asset. Opportunities are being taken as they arise with the drafting of new plans to include provision for the World Heritage Site in the most appropriate way.

An important example of this is the precedent established with the Cornwall Structure Plan 2004 which made provision in Policy 2 for the proposed World Heritage Site:

Policy 2 Character Areas, Design & Environmental Protection

The revenue budgets for the most recent complete financial year (2003/4) total £2,787,629, including expenditure on operating costs of the property, ongoing repair, maintenance, staffing and presentation (for visitor attractions facilities).

This level of investment is evidence of the high priority placed on mining heritage by public authorities in Cornwall and West Devon. The Management Plan will include further research to identify the investment in mining heritage as a proportion of the total spend on the heritage sector overall.

The World Heritage Site Office and Bid Team is hosted within the Environment and Heritage Service of Cornwall County Council. The team has access to a range of skills and experience across the bid Partnership.

The Environment and Heritage Service includes archives, publicity, land management, bid development, project management and historic environment.

The Historic Environment Team (formerly Cornwall Archaeological Unit) is one of the largest most established of its type in the United Kingdom and provides the following expertise to the World Heritage Site Office:

• County Archaeologist (Head of Historic Environment)

• Projects Team includes Archaeologists with considerable experience in identification and recording of mine sites

• Historic Environment Record Team

• Historic Environment Advice Team

• National Mapping Programme Team

Over the past 20 years staff working for Cornwall County Council, in partnership with colleagues across the local authorities and other agencies including the National Trust, have been at the forefront of developing skills and best practice for dealing with contaminated and derelict land, conserving mine buildings, creating public access, sourcing funding, recording archaeological remains, promoting heritage-led regeneration, developing Geographical Information Systems and other computer data systems. Cornwall County Council is an Investor in People and all staff are provided with opportunity and encouragement for continuing professional development and training.

Devon County Council has been at the forefront of delivering benefits to the historic environment through agri-environment schemes and has a well established programme of aerial reconnaissance. The Historic Environment Team includes:

• County Archaeologist

• Historic Environment Record & Geographic Information System staff

• Development control and planning advice staff

• Site management advice staff

• Historic Landscape Characterisation Officer

• Historic Buildings Officers

Expertise is also available from the 10 Conservation Officers, Planning Officers, and staff with expertise in policy, regeneration, countryside management and tourism marketing from all the District Councils in the nominated Site. Expertise in the care and management of World Heritage Sites, as well as strategic policy advice on conservation and planning is available from English Heritage within the Regional and National offices.

The Officer Working Group brings together representatives from English Heritage, ICOMOS, the two County Councils, seven District Councils and other agencies into a forum for discussion, advice and guidance to the World Heritage Site Office.

The Bid Partnership provides the World Heritage Site Office communication with a full range of interest groups and societies, agencies and owners and the specialist knowledge and expertise each hold. During the Bid,

Technical Panels have provided expertise in mining and engineering history, mineralogy, marketing and promotion. Area Panels have provided local knowledge during the drafting of the nominated Site boundary.

The nominated Site comprises a series of landscapes (Areas) that contain a distinctive and recurring pattern of buildings, monuments and sites, some of which now offer specific visitor facilities.

Mining Heritage visitor facilities within the nominated Site areas can be broadly categorised as follows:

• Heritage centres/museums interpreting multiple aspects of nominated Site history and significance, providing a range of visitor facilities including education services

• Mine sites interpreted and operating as a visitor attraction and providing a range of visitor facilties, including education services

• Mine Sites, accessible and with basic interpretation, but no visitor facilities

• Mineral and mine owners houses and gardens

• Libraries and archives with mining related material and collections

• Mine landscapes with basic interpretation, served by trails and footpaths

• Mining towns and villages with basic interpretation trails

• Tourism Information Centres

There are numerous mining landscape related visitor facilities  across Cornwall and West Devon. There is a wide range in size and scope of facility, with some attractions offering a more comprehensive interpretation of mining heritage, while others specialising in a particular aspect or feature. Click here to view map of visitor attractions

An Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) was commissioned by the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Bid Partnership in 2003 to:

• establish the current volume and value of mining heritage motivated tourism

• predict the effect of World Heritage Site inscription on tourism

It is estimated that in 2000 there were 870,000 visits per year to the mining heritage visitor attractions and facilities in Cornwall and West Devon. These were part of an overall estimated 739,000 staying visitors and 1,913,000 day visitors for whom mining heritage is important in planning their visit, who are themselves a sub-set of the estimated 6.7 million trips every year motivated by conserved landscapes.

A more recent survey of mining heritage attractions and interpreted landscapes within the nominated Site revealed that in 2003, 10 of these achieved a combined visitor total of over 460,000. In estimating the potential impact on visitor numbers of inscription as a World Heritage Site, the EIA identified that the ten nominated Site areas fell into five broad categories. These differentiated between those areas with the capacity to benefit from increased visitor activity throughout the year, those where any growth should be targeted outside the summer high season, areas where infrastructure development was needed before the area could support greater visitor activity, and those which were not well placed to seek growth in visitor numbers, either because they were already at capacity or due to a lack of facilities.

The EIA report concluded that, given the context of regional tourism targets for growth between 1999 and 2010 (40%), there was potential for a 10% increase in mining heritage related visits by 2007/8, subject to the implementation of a 3 year, £500,000 marketing strategy commencing in 2004.

The World Heritage Site Bid Partnership Marketing Strategy adopted in April 2004 has identified the following priorities in relation to target audiences:

• local residents

• cultural tourists

• ancestral tourists descended from migrant miners

• education and lifelong learning

• walkers

This mix of audiences best fits the strategic aims of pursuing sustainable growth outside high season and generating economic benefits whilst also ensuring that the social and cultural values of the nominated Site contribute to present day community development strategies.

A key visitor management policy priority is the identification and development of "Key Centre" sites, which interpret the character and significance of mining within a sub region of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, and act as a signpost to other attractions and facilities within the nominated Site. Criteria for identification of Key Centres will include:

• authenticity of experience (including above ground interpretation and underground mine visit)

• capacity to serve substantially increased visitor numbers without detriment to the site

• relevance to a range of the mining landscape components and multiple significances

• significant existing educational usage, with potential for growth

• range of quality ancillary facilities such as café, shop

The central Cornwall bid areas contain a number of potential Key Centre candidates, although currently without the full range of advantages listed above. The Management Plan includes an options appraisal of each of these, with a view to identifying a further candidate Key Centre for development.