Voters Say Bridge Is More Important Than World Heritage Site Title

"Two years ago, the Dresden population voted to build a new bridge over the Elbe -- even though the Elbe Valley is a World Heritage site. As a consequence, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) put the green landscape on its so-called "red list" of endangered heritage sites, 'with a view to also consider ... delisting the site from the World Heritage List in 2007 if the plans are carried through,' as the organization wrote in a press release. It would be the first time any site had been struck off the World Heritage List, which identifies sites around the world of exceptional cultural or natural value."

"Reacting to the UNESCO decision, a Dresden court imposed a building ban in August 2006. But now that decision has been revoked. Saxony's Higher Administrative Court in Bautzen ruled on Tuesday that the €160 million construction project for the Waldschlösschen Bridge should go ahead, despite the possibility that the area will lose its World Heritage status as a result."

"In so deciding, the judges gave the public referendum from February 2005 to build the bridge more importance than the maintenance of World Heritage site conventions. Two years ago, half of the city's population participated in a referendum over the bridge, which was approved by a 68 percent majority. However, the Dresden citizens cast their vote without realizing that the planned project could endanger the Elbe Valley's World Heritage site status, which it has held since 2004."