UNESCO warns against the threat of the Tower from London skyscrapers

London - The Tower of London, which has gained fame over 900 years as a prison, execution site, and most recently as a tourist attraction, will appear on the list of endangered monuments of the world cultural heritage. And that will be the case at least until the "encirclement" of the castle by surrounding skyscrapers is resolved. This was announced today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
    According to the UNESCO report, London urban planners are not doing enough to ensure an uninterrupted view of the tower or from the tower through the surrounding buildings. Additionally, the tallest building in Britain, the Glass Shell skyscraper, is expected to rise to a height of 310 meters here in 2010.
    "It's a problem of visual integrity that affects all major cities," said Gina Doubleday, spokesperson for the World Heritage Centre.
    While placing the Tower on the endangered monuments list may secure additional funding for the London castle, it would be an embarrassment for Britain, according to the AP agency. From the developed world, only the Everglades National Park in Florida, USA, is on the endangered monuments list; this largest freshwater swamp in the world is threatened by surrounding agricultural activity.
    However, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport alleviates all doubts and assures that the Tower will ultimately not make it onto the list. "There is a commission for development control in the country that requires very thorough consultations on public affairs. It pays attention to ensuring that the role and location of the castle are properly considered in development," stated department spokesperson Toby Sargent. The ministry plans to submit its own report to UNESCO on protecting the castle from high-rise buildings.
    The Tower, built by Norman King William the Conqueror in the 11th century, was added to the World Heritage list in 1999, which currently includes 830 unique monuments.