Demolition work marks start of revamp of Durham's Wharton Park

THE DEMOLITION of a derelict park keepers house in a Victorian park will start in the New Year marking the beginning of a 3m restoration project.

Workers will move in and begin pulling down the house at Durham Citys Wharton Park on Monday January 5, with work expected to take two weeks. The area will be cordoned off and the rest of the park will stay open.

The historic park will close in spring for 12 months for extensive work, including a new heritage centre and caf, new play and fitness areas and restoration of the amphitheatre, battlements and miniature car track.

Cllr David Stoker, who has been closely involved in the project, said: We are all absolutely delighted to be in the position where we are breaking ground.

Wharton Park is the jewel in the crown of parks in the county, which was becoming tired and not far off having to be closed down.

Thanks to the council funding and the money from heritage lottery we are going to be able to transform it in a relatively short time.

He added: We are grateful for the significant investment the Heritage Lottery Fund have put in of 2.45m.

I think thats a reflection ambitious and innovative designs that have come forward.

There is a timeliness about all of this, because there are so many areas that are protected in there, including the battlements overlooking the station.

It is perfectly clear the damage was greater that we imagined, so we could have been looking at paying major costs for renovations. We got there just in time.

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Demolition work marks start of revamp of Durham's Wharton Park