23/10/2008 07:12:00

An eighteenth century Scottish spinning village, and one of the country's five Unesco World Heritage Sites, could be in danger due to insufficient funding, officials have stated.

The New Lanark Trust, who owns the site in South Lanarkshire, has warned that a lack of money means that vital restoration work has been delayed, causing detriment to the area's status as a prime tourist attraction in Scotland.

The chairman of the trust, Arthur Bell, said: "Centuries old walls have a habit of falling. Roof leaks and rots develop. Heating and lighting costs rocket. Car parks need resurfaced. Rooms need refurbished."

Mr Bell is now pushing for Unesco to reclassify New Lanark as a 'World Heritage Site in danger'.

It's also been revealed that the attraction's rapidly deteriorating status could have been reversed if it had not been refused an important National Heritage Lottery Grant recently.

The lottery money would have been used to reinforce a crumbling wall.

In order to tackle the growing problems experienced by the New Lanark Trust, Scotland's Culture Minister, Linda Fabiani, will be meeting Aileen Campbell, MSP for South of Scotland.

Ms Campbell said: "Events like the Year of Homecoming will provide a much-needed boost to tourist attractions across the region, but there will always be certain cases which need extra support."

Homecoming Scotland marks a year-long programme of events to celebrate Scottish culture and promote tourism. It coincides with the 250th anniversary of the birth of poet Robert Burns.

Existing Unesco World Heritage Sites in Scotland, apart from New Lanark, include Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, St Kilda in the Hebrides and the Antoine Wall, a Roman fortification in the central belt.