A MOVE to block plans to resume mining in Cornwall to preserve the county's unique identify at the expense of its future would be hugely detrimental to its economic well-being, South Crofty said today.
Mining at the Pool mine may have to be put on hold if Cornwall is to keep its World Heritage site status.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has warned that failure to comply could result in the entire area being de-listed following meeting of more than 1,400 delegates from 121 countries in Cambodia this week.
The move has prompted a swift response from the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site (CMWHS) Partnership Board, who expressed "concern" at the UNESCO decision.
CMWHS said the UN committee made its decisions without even discussing the issues.
The group said they had worked hard to produce a management plan, endorsed by the Government and local councils to ensure "internationally important historic mining features are carefully preserved for future generations."
Today, Alan Shoesmith, the CEO of mine owners Western United Mines, said he was delighted with CMWHS' response to UNESCO's decisions regarding South Crofty Mine.
He told the West Briton: "As far as we are concerned, the planning consents granted to us were the result of a due and proper process that permit us to proceed with full operational mining developments when we are ready to do so. We have also seen a Government statement which confirms that UNESCO has no status in the UK planning system. Its committee cannot therefore stop the granting of planning consents and, most importantly from our point of view, it cannot prevent the implementation of existing consents.
"In my view, the process should be changed so that the local management board, with specific knowledge of the site, is able to make recommendations to UNESCO's committee. This would ensure the committee was properly informed when such matters are considered.
"The only action that UNESCO can effectively take is to remove Cornwall's world heritage status and that would be a very sad day indeed. Cornwall's past is part and parcel of its unique identity but to preserve that at the expense of its future would be hugely detrimental to its economic wellbeing."
