November 14 2008

Inspectors from UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) have arrived in Edinburgh as the organisation considers whether to withdraw the World Heritage status bestowed upon the city.

UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve, from emergency assistance to safeguard properties in danger to long term conservation.

Concerns have risen over the impact to Edinburgh's conservation that major new builds in the city will have - specifically Caltongate, St James shopping centre, Leith Docks and the Haymarket hotel.

The investigation is being carried out by Ms Mechtild Rossler, Chief of Section (Europe and North America), and Professor Mannfredd Wehdorn of ICOMOS (the International Monuments Committee), who advise UNESCO.

They will then present their findings to delegates at the 2009 UNESCO summit in Seville where a decision will be made on whether the city needs to be considered ‘at risk’.

Both Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town were inscribed World Heritage status in 1995 in recognition of the quality and contrast of Medieval and Georgian architecture.

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