Issue - meetings

To consider a proposal from local resident, Clive Carter, for the Alexandra Park & Palace Trust Board to apply for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition.

The Committee received proposals (pages 73 – 76 of the agenda pack), presented by Mr Clive Carter, Local resident, for the Alexandra Palace and Park Board to apply for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition.

The Chair and other members thanked Mr Carter for the time he had spent on drafting the proposals. 

Concerns were raised about the amount of officer time that would need to be dedicated to such a project. 

The General Manager – Alexandra Palace advised that the application would take years of officer dedicated time (assuming the building was in a good state of repair) and could even be refused, which might impact the Palace’s reputation. 

The Managing Director – Alexandra Palace Trading Limited (APTL) reported that another known site had spent 20 years applying for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition, which had been deferred for the second time despite its buildings being in a better state of repair than Alexandra Palace.  She stated that whilst the Palace was worthy of such status there was no proof that it would generate additional funding or visitors to the Palace and Park and there might be more efficient ways to bring the Palace worldwide recognition.

Committee members suggested the establishment of a Heritage Working Group.  The General Manager of Alexandra Palace emphasised that this would require servicing by officers and such resources were not available due to other priorities such as repairs to the Palace buildings.

Mr Carter was encouraged to build support for the proposal for the Alexandra Park and Palace Trust Board to apply for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition.

 RESOLVED that, whilst there were differences in views on this item, the Board should consider the item after it had been to the Statutory Advisory Committee.