Improvements to Hartlepool's historic buildings and maritime heritage included in £53million plans

Council chiefs have been considering a report on improving the town for future years.

A report which went before Hartlepool Borough Council Finance and Policy Committee looked at plans for £53million of investment.

While the majority of the funding will look at projects on the Waterfront, including a flagship new leisure attraction, several plans have been drawn up to improve ‘cultural’ projects in the town.

Council chiefs said this will involve looking at improvements to key buildings such as the Town Hall Theatre and Borough Hall.

To date there is £2.2million of approved funding for cultural projects, the majority of which comes from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, while the council will look to secure another £2.7million in grant funding.

Chris Little, council director of finance and policy, said it is down to the council to put plans in place to improve key buildings.

He said: “It’s around improving the town’s heritage assets. These are key public buildings, if the council doesn’t look after these buildings I don’t suspect anybody else will. They’re important to the local community and important to the council.

“We’ve got investments to both the Borough Hall and the Town Hall Theatre.

“Both are about improving the facilities and increasing usage, they’re also about making the facilities more financially sustainable and in a better and more attractive environment.”

Other projects identified to be funded with the ‘cultural’ budget include bringing Headland amphitheatre back into use and to support work to improve Hartlepool Art Gallery.

Council officers will now look to develop detailed schemes and business cases.

The council put together the investment plan with help of comments during the council plan consultation, with many calling for more community activities and events.

The largest part of the capital investment scheme will be around the Waterfront, with projects estimated to total around £39million, with 93% of the funding already secured.

The remaining funding is expected to be made up of £2million from Sport England and sponsorship for Waterfront public arts projects.

The investment will include work on an events space, an expansion of the National Museum of the Royal Navy and the restoration of the Wingfield Castle, labelled ‘the final piece of the jigsaw’ by council officers.

Coun Sue Little called for residents to be kept up to date with how the work is going with visual updates throughout large projects, such as the new leisure centre at the Waterfront.

She said: “I think it would be really interesting if we could have a slide show half way through, like when we’re doing the leisure centre, if we can get the start, then a couple of months down the line, this is what’s improved.

“I love visuals to see what’s happening, but I think residents also like to see a visual of what’s happening.”

She added they could also help to spot “snags” in any plans.