Last updated at 19:48, Thursday, 08 September 2011

Work to create a Roman heritage centre in Maryport, which could pump more than £3 million into the local economy, will start soon.

It had been feared that Roman Maryport would fall victim to Government funding cuts, but the company behind the scheme – Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited – said it remained committed.

Mike Baker, project director, said the company would embark on the £5 million first phase of the scheme while it explored other options, rather than delay the £11 million Maryport project completely.

Phase one will create a visitor centre, exhibition area and a more basic cafe than first planned within the existing building on Camp Farm, where Roman Maryport will be built.

It is hoped that phase one will be open by March 2014.

There will be no extra new building in the meantime, he added, but the result would be a visitor attraction that would not hinder future developments, when funding became available.

Phase one will also see the continued excavation of Camp Farm.

First published at 19:24, Thursday, 08 September 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk