Feeding seabirds protected by postponement of restoration scheme

Hartlepool Borough Council has decided to push back the start of on-site work at the Headland Amphitheatre until spring to avoid causing any disturbance to wildlife.

Off-site elements of the scheme - including the manufacture of pre-cast sections of the new structure - will, however, commence in the meantime.

Located on the promenade immediately to north of the Heugh Battery Museum, the amphitheatre is viewed as being one of Hartlepool’s most valuable cultural assets and along with a number of other similar assets across the Borough, is to be restored/refurbished with funding from a range of sources, including the Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and other partners.

The Headland Amphitheatre as it currently looks

Photographs dating back to the early 1900s indicate it was used for a range of public events, community celebrations and entertainment with seating built in to the retaining wall, a Victorian bandstand and a café.

The restoration scheme will involve constructing a new retaining wall to the rear of the site and replacing the existing stepped seats around a feature paved area to provide an events space. Once complete, the amphitheatre will accommodate around 500 spectators.

An artist's impression of the restored Amphitheatre

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of the Council and a Headland and Harbour Ward councillor, said: “Planning permission has now been granted for the restoration of the bandstand and we were hoping to start work on site this year.

“However, we recognise the importance of the surrounding area as a winter feeding ground for various species of seabird, so given the time of year we have decided to postpone the on-site element of the scheme until 2021 to minimise the impact of the works on them.”

The rocky low tide foreshore beyond the promenade railings is recognised as being important for bird species such as cormorant, curlew, knot, oystercatcher, purple sandpiper, redshank, sanderling and turnstone.

Councillor Moore added: “Whilst it is a little disappointing that we are going to have wait a while longer to see this exciting project come to fruition, this is the right thing to do and the decision to postpone the start of work on site demonstrates the Council’s commitment to protecting the town’s natural environment.”