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BOURNVILLE WORLD HERITAGE PLAN

15-04-2008

Bournville is the latest part of part of the West Midlands to join the quest for World Heritage Status. Local councillor Nigel Dawkins wants the home of Cadbury’s to be listed to help protect the Birmingham suburb’s unique environment.

With local elections around the corner, Dawkins appeal – made in a leaflet distributed to local residents - could be seen as a well-timed vote-catcher, but in any event “Chocolate Town” would surely have as good a claim as others who’ve already won the designation.

There are 27 UNESCO listed sites in the UK, and as well as obvious locations like Stonehenge they also include a number of sites associated with the nation’s industrial heritage eg Derwent Valley Mills and Saltaire.

Bournville, George Cadbury’s attempt to provide a “model village” for his workers, certainly holds its own in that company.

It has withstood more than a century of change to maintain much of its original ethos – remaining, for example, a pub-free zone in keeping with its founders’ Quaker values.

Dawkins says: “I am convinced that Bournville’s unique cultural and industrial history and outstanding architecture makes it an ideal candidate to become another UK based World Heritage Site.

“It will not be easy and it will not be quick. It could take many years trying to overcome the various hurdles and even then we could fail.

“However, the prize would allow Bournville to join a unique world club of heritage sites.

“The enhanced status would also give greater protection to Bournville, dramatically enhance its reputation and lead to greater investment.”

In January The Stirrer broke the news of a bid by the Jewellery Quarter to win World Heritage Status (see link here) and there’s also talk of securing a similar listing for the Soho Foundry where James Watt perfected the steam engine (see link here).