LIVERPOOL council leader Joe Anderson has appealed to Unesco inspectors to trust the city to look after its world heritage site.

Cllr Anderson has met the inspectors as part of the effort to convince them that the city’s heritage will not be compromised by Peel Holdings’ £5.5bn Liverpool Waters skyscraper scheme to regenerate the city’s northern docklands.

The inspectors will today complete a three-day fact-finding mission to assess Liverpool’s world heritage site (WHS).

Unesco has warned that, if the Liverpool Waters development is granted planning permission, it could strip the city of its WHS status.

Yesterday, the Daily Post revealed how the decision by Unesco will have huge ramifications.

Inspector Ron van Oers said his verdict will become part of case law governing development in world heritage sites across the globe.

Cllr Anderson said: “We have had constructive meetings with them. They said they are here to listen and work with us. I said to them that they can trust us.”

He listed central library, the Bluecoat, Oriel Chambers, and the Bascule bridge, on Regent Road, as examples of heritage assets that had been or were being renovated.

“I think we have got the balance right between conserving our heritage and trying to secure investment.”

“I hope they will see the improvements made in the city but also how we are protecting our heritage.

“I told the inspectors that I don’t see this as an either or argument, I think we have got to strike a balance.

“The Outstanding Universal Value of the site is something we agree with, we are proud of the WHS status.