COUNCIL MUST COME CLEAN ON LOTTERY MYSTERY

12.00.00am GMT Mon 7th Dec 2009

Lib Dem, Carol Woods, has called on the Labour County Council to come clean on why the Belmont Viaduct remains closed despite securing high-profile lottery funding two years ago.

After a public vote as part of the People's Lottery contest, half a million pounds was awarded to reopen the viaduct as a key cycle and walking route into the city.

Despite this, the Labour Council has failed to begin work on the project and concerns are being raised as to whether the delay will put the funding under threat.

Carol Woods commented, "The Council need to come forward and explain why this project hasn't started. It is believed that the costs have escalated since the money was awarded but that only raises the question of why work was not started immediately.

"A public vote decided that this project should be awarded this money, it is clear from that that the public are keen for it to go ahead. It would appear that Council incompetence has put this project in jeopardy and that is unacceptable given the work that went into winning the bid in the first place.

"How can the Council claim to be serious about their bid to make Durham a City of Culture when they cannot even get projects like this off the ground despite a £500,000 helping hand?"