MSP in plea for world heritage gateway in Orkney

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur yesterday urged the Scottish Government to commit to world-class infrastructure and facilities for Orkney’s world-class heritage sites.

Mr McArthur was speaking in a debate at Holyrood celebrating Scotland’s ‘Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology’.

During the debate he highlighted the public anger at Historic Environment Scotland’s decision to close and then limit access to Maeshowe, the 5,000-year-old Neolithic chambered cairn, due to health and safety concerns.

A meeting between Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and other stakeholders is due to take place on February 10 to discuss the issue.

Mr McArthur said: “I welcome the agreement by HES chief executive Alex Paterson to visit Orkney next week to meet with stakeholders. Those talks need to deliver urgent action ahead of the forthcoming tourist season.

“But more ambitious long-term solutions are also needed.

“Orkney was at the heart of Neolithic civilisation, and that is where Orkney should be in this Scottish Government’s plans to celebrate heritage.

“That means a firm commitment by the Government, its agencies and local partners to deliver the sort of world heritage gateway in Orkney that will do justice to Orkney’s world-class heritage sites.”

Mr McArthur also used his speech to call on government to do more to support regional archaeologists, under threat in a number of places across Scotland, and ensure that more is done to help take advantage of the growing interest in wartime heritage, an area where Orkney is well placed to benefit .