UNESCO has voted to remove Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City from its world heritage list, according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com. It took nearly nine years for the decision to be made after it was placed on the In Danger list. The waterfront’s designation was revoked by the committee due to “irreversible loss of features reflecting the property’s extraordinary universal worth.”
The committee voted to demolish the Liverpool waterfront, citing concerns about overdevelopment and proposals for a new football stadium. The motion received 13 votes in favor and five votes against in the committee discussions, which were led by China. To remove a site off the global list, it appears that just one more than a two-thirds majority is required.
“It means that the site of Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City is erased from the World Heritage List,” said Tian Xuejun, Chairman of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee.
Past removals
The Liverpool waterfront is the third on the UNESCO list of places to be demolished. The Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Oman and the Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany had previously been delisted by UNESCO.
“Places like Liverpool should not be faced with the binary choice between maintaining heritage status or regenerating left-behind communities – and the wealth of jobs and opportunities that come with it.” Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said.
A number of residents in the city are dissatisfied with the decision. Liverpool City Council cabinet member Harry Doyle stated that they are even more disappointed that UNESCO declined their invitation to come to the city and see the work that is being done.
“They’ve made this decision in isolation halfway around the world,” Doyle explained.
The UK government was also disappointed by the decision, stating that Liverpool “still deserves to be a world heritage site.”
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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