AFTER years of debate, work has finally begun on a controversial £5.25m revamp for a North-East city centre.

Regeneration officials behind Durham’s Heart of the City project say three days of tree pruning, which began on Wednesday, will open up spectacular views of Durham Castle, previously hidden from view.

Clare James, project manager for Durham City Vision (DCV), said: “It’s exciting to be under way and it’s nice to start on the vennels (alleys).

“They haven’t had so much focus, but they are quite important for the city.

“We want to open them up, and, in doing so, open up special views of Durham Castle that people wouldn’t previously have seen.

“Hopefully, it will encourage people to explore the city a bit more.”

Work began on the Moatside Lane vennel, which links Saddler Street and Silver Street.

It is also aimed at allowing more light onto the street, improving security for pedestrians and students at neighbouring University College, and supporting wildlife.

Ann Deary, environmental manager at DCV, said: “The idea is to make the vennel a welcoming place for people to walk again and make full use of it as the historic route it is.

“It’s used on ghost walks and history walks and it was used during the Lumiere festival, so it’s known and regarded as a route, but people didn’t want to use it because it was too dark.”

The Heart of the City scheme has been best known for plans to move the Lord Londonderry on horseback statue 26 metres across Durham Market Place.

A long-running campaign against the move ended in defeat last month. The statue is currently in London for major repairs and could return to Durham in June.

However, the project also includes proposals for re-surfacing, new street furniture and traffic reduction; and supporters say it is crucial for the future of the city and the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site.

DCV has recently awarded the project contract to Carillion, one of the UK’s biggest construction firms, and work in the Market Place is expected to begin next month. It is hoped the project will be completed by next February