ASSURANCES have been given that work to restore Darlington's South Park will be put out to tender.
A meeting of Darlington Borough Council has agreed to waive contracts procedure rules on £247,000 of work on the bandstand at the park, but concern was raised about the rest of the £3.9m scheme.
Councillor Bill Stenson told Thursday's meeting: "A project of this sort demands - and the public demands it - that we go out to tender in the proper procedures."
However, Councillor Dorothy Long, cabinet member for leisure, said the officers' report clearly stated the waiving of the contract was solely for the bandstand work.
She said the reason for the waiving of the procedure was because the contractors, Landscape Design Associates, Davis Langdon and Everest Quantity Surveyors and Paul Bancroft Architects, had been engaged for the initial outline Heritage Lottery Fund bid, and to progress the bid.
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