On the 9 October, Jonathan Davies, MP for Mid Derbyshire and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS), headlined a major conference on World Heritage Sites in Saltaire, Bradford.
The two-day event, convened by World Heritage UK (WHUK), was hosted at Victoria Hall in the heart of the UNESCO WHS Saltaire. It brought together key stakeholders from World Heritage-related sectors across the UK, politicians including local MP Anna Dixon, WHUK leaders, and site managers from across the UK.
The conference, themed ‘Engagement with World Heritage,’ featured speeches and presentations discussing the significance of World Heritage, ongoing UNESCO projects, and strategies for encouraging engagement with communities.
Jonathan spoke about the Derwent Valley Mills WHS and introduced the APPG to the conference.
Jonathan also announced his plans to build a national strategy for British World Heritage Sites.
Jonathan Davies said:
‘I arrived at the WHUK conference in Saltaire excited and I left inspired.
‘I was inspired by the passion and knowledge of the site managers from across the UK, whose sites differ hugely in age, scale and function. And I was inspired by the common purpose of all participants to build a society of tolerance, where we not only understand our history but use it to build a better future.
‘I look forward to working with everyone I met to embed heritage better into our education system, to build peace through better understanding between communities, and to ensure that site managers are empowered to deliver this through a linked-up national strategy for British World Heritage Sites.
‘It was great to hear from Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley and Lord Wallace, Vice-Chair of the APPG about what makes Saltaire so special, as well as raising the profile of our unique Derwent Valley Mills WHS, the cradle of the industrial revolution.
‘I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned with parliamentarians back in Westminster, and to shaping the government’s work to ensure that these truly special sites are supported to fulfil their enormous potential.’
