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Gorge works on top priority list
Tuesday 1st April 2008, 11:40AM BST.
The Ironbridge Gorge, cradle of the Industrial Revolution, is listed alongside Stonehenge and the Tower of London as Britain’s top three heritage sites in need of protection, it was revealed today.
Telford MP David Wright said ministers understood the huge importance of Shropshire’s only World Heritage Sitea nd he was confident the £90 million needed to prevent the risk of a catastrophic landslide would soon be found.
Mr Wright, chairman of the Commons’ all-party World Heritage Group, is the MP responsible for the Gorge which urgently needs civil engineering work to tackle land instability. He has been lobbying ministers, along with Telford & Wrekin Council, which says the huge cost cannot be met by local taxpayers.
He said: “I wrote to Ed Miliband, minister for the cabinet office, a few weeks ago and spoke to him again last night.
“They are very conscious at cabinet level of the importance of Ironbridge and officials are meeting to look at the best way forward.”
He added: “Margaret Hodge, minister of state for culture, media and sport, has made it clear Ironbridge is in her top three priorities.”
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“Mr Wright, chairman of the Commons’ all-party World Heritage Group, is the MP responsible for the Gorge”
He’s also MP for Madeley, part of which is also included within the World Heritage Site – but you wouldn’t know it from the squalid state of the area
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