Fears World Heritage status would change town

Resident Amanda Gazidis says World Heritage status would change the identity of Glastonbury in Somerset

A petition has been set up to try to stop Glastonbury from becoming a World Heritage site.

Glastonbury Town Council is in the early stages of exploring whether the Somerset town and surrounding landscape could meet the Unesco criteria for "outstanding universal value".

Resident Amanda Gazidis has set up a petition against the potential bid for World Heritage status, saying: "It would change the whole face of Glastonbury."

The town council said it welcomed "lively debate" and was looking for more public responses.

To achieve World Heritage status, a site must demonstrate exceptional qualities and be nominated by a country.

The status offers legal protections, potential funding for restoration, and can lead to increased tourism.

The town is world famous in part due to Glastonbury Festival, which is held in nearby Pilton. It also has a number of attractions including the Tor and Abbey.

A working group is exploring whether Glastonbury should apply for World Heritage status

Ms Gazidis said she feared World Heritage status would change Glastonbury from a "very organic, spiritual and diverse place" to become "commodified and homogenised".

"The identity of the town would change," she added.

The town council said it was working with specialist consultants who have experience with Bath's two successful World Heritage bids.

Giles Adams, the chair of Visit Somerset, said: "For me there is a deeper issue before really considering Unesco and that is around sustainability."

He added: "Glastonbury needs to look at its own capability, its economic development. Tourism is nothing without community."

A working group will carry out consultations until spring 2026 when the town council will review the findings before deciding whether to proceed.