A mission at last for the Apollo
Jul 3 2008 by Liz Hands, The Journal
A CONCRETE 1960s pavilion which has been plagued by controversy is to be restored after winning £336,000 in lottery cash.
The award was revealed by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Apollo Pavilion on the Sunny Blunts housing estate at Peterlee in County Durham.
It is the latest turn in a 20-year saga which has seen a campaign led by local councillor and resident Joan Maslin for the structure’s demolition on the grounds that it is an eyesore and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
She invited the Army to blow up the pavilion and contacted TV programmes like Jim’ll Fix It and Challenge Anneka to dismantle the structure.
But at the same time the pavilion was hailed by Durham County Council as an internationally-acclaimed public artwork and English Heritage recommended it for listing.
Yesterday Coun Maslin said: “After campaigning for years and years we could see nothing was going to happen and that the pavilion would be there forever. Hopefully the restoration plans will enhance the area.”
The pavilion, named after the space mission, was designed by Victor Pasmore, who was master of painting at King’s College, now Newcastle University, and whose work is in Tate Britain, London’s Royal Academy of Arts and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Mr Pasmore, who died in 1998, also worked on the development of Peterlee New Town in the early 1960s.
Yesterday Dr Keith Bartlett, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the North East, said: “Following strong support from local people for the revival of the Apollo Pavilion as a valuable feature of Peterlee’s local heritage, it is now set to become an historical architectural centrepiece of the North East once again.
“It is truly a 1960s design icon and the HLF is delighted that it will now be preserved for future generations while enjoying new and innovative uses that will add value to the lives of the community.”
The award will allow Easington Council to work closely with the community and in particular the Apollo Pavilion Residents’ Steering Group on the restoration.
This will include the replacement of the staircase to allow access to the upper level, and full restoration of two original Pasmore murals including feature lighting.
In addition, Sunny Blunts Park will receive a major facelift, being re-cobbled and reed beds added to the West End lake to the original design.
The Apollo Pavilion project will also see the appointment of a community education officer and the artist’s son, John Pasmore, will be making his archive public at local libraries in Peterlee.
Joan Freak, executive member for social inclusion and culture at Easington Council, said: “This award is excellent news. Refurbishment of the pavilion, together with the landscaping of the area, will provide a boost to the regeneration of this part of Peterlee.”
John Pasmore said: “I’m delighted by the news.”
Work is due to start in November and is scheduled to take six months.
