COUNCIL chiefs have apologised for a £5.25m regeneration scheme running months late and damaging city centre trade, saying it was probably over-ambitious.

Durham County Council boss Ian Thompson defended the controversial Heart of the City scheme, saying the investment in Durham city centre would maximise economic benefits and move Durham forward in a respectful way.

However, he admitted work could only have been finished on time – in February – if everything had gone perfectly.

Most work will be finished by July, Mr Thompson, the council’s corporate director for regeneration and economic development, said.

“We’re very sorry that it’s overrun.

We would very much apologise to people who use the city and traders for not finishing the works on time.

“We know that has an impact on people using the town and that’s not what we intended. This is all about improving the economy of the city, not creating difficulties for people.”

He added: “Overall, we were probably more ambitious than we should have been.”

Heart of the City has seen new paving, seats and lighting installed, side streets opened up and the Lord Londonderry statue moved across the Market Place.

A new power supply and drains have also been installed.

New street lights will continue to be added, while repairs to Elvet Bridge will stop until late summer.

Mr Thompson blamed the delays on bad weather and the discovery of skeletons under the Market Place.

Responding to claims that removing traffic lights from Saddler Street had caused chaos, Mr Thompson said the situation would be monitored.

On the controversial Lord Londonderry move, he said: “I feel the horse looks better where it is now.”

He said: “The benefits of this scheme are to create the right environment in the historic core of our major tourist selling point. We’re doing this in a respectful way, leading to real benefits for the city.”

Harvey Dowdy, director of Durham City Vision which has led the project, said: “The overrun is hugely disappointing but we don’t deliberately overrun.”