Work to restore Scarborough's South Cliff Gardens could get underway in a matter of weeks after the Borough council appointed a contractor to carry out the works.
£7m will be spent bringing the 200 year old gardens back to their former glory.
The council's legal director Lisa Dixon says it's the latest stage in a long running project.
Lisa Dixon says the project to restore the gardens has received significant backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as from a number of local groups and organisations.
Scarborough Council’s cabinet yesterday approved the appointment of PBS Construction (NE) Ltd as the main contractor for the scheme.
Chris Bourne, the project officer for the scheme for Scarborough Council told the cabinet that it was hoped that work would start in March with a 12 month completion time estimated.
Mr Bourne said the appointment of PBS Construction will now go through a 10-day window for potential legal challenges to the decision to be lodged from firms that were not successful during the tendering process before it becomes official.
Council leader Cllr Steve Siddons welcomed progress on the scheme and paid tribute to everyone who had been involved.
He said:
“It is a fantastic piece of work that is now hopefully moving ahead.
“It really does set the standard for community involvement I think and something we should reflect on as we move forward.”
Councillor Carl Maw highlighted the inclusive nature of the scheme which will see the gardens be made more accessible, dementia friendly and inclusive.
The cabinet report noted that due to the delays and some changes to the proposed new public toilets that make up an element of the scheme the budget had increased by approximately £120,000.
The 200-year-old gardens include 14 timber and concrete shelters, believed to be the largest number of historic shelters in any public garden in the country and feature 19th Century Egyptian gates, Italian steps designed by Joseph Paxton, iconic Italian gardens, Holbeck Clock Tower, the world’s first beach chalets, rose garden and the much-loved Clock Café.
As part of the project a boarded up tunnel built in 1874 beneath the railway tracks of the cliff lift will be reopened to the public.
The tunnel was used to join the gardens so people could pass beneath the cliff lift before structural issues saw its enforced closure.
The project will also restore the historic infrastructure of the gardens, improve habitat management and provide new facilities that will complement the gardens’ historic setting and encourage greater community use. Heritage features will be restored, a new and innovative play area will be built and original heritage horticultural displays installed.
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