THE National Lottery could look to claw back some of the millions it has invested in Wentworth Castle Gardens if the future is not secured for the failing tourist attraction.
The prospect adds to the financial headache facing bosses, who are in crisis talks to try and find a long term future for the Grade I listed landscape following the shock announcement it will close due to a lack of funds.
The trust which manages the gardens is now winding down, and the attraction will undergo ‘a managed closure’ before shutting to the public in the spring.
More than £22m has been invested in restoring the site to its former glory over the last 14 years, and it is understood the National Lottery could seek to recover some of the grant money it has poured into revamping the attraction including the Victorian conservatory, which reopened in 2014 following an extensive £3.7m lottery-funded renovation.
The Heritage Lottery Fund said any risk to its investment is ‘a concern’ and warned that where ‘contractual obligations’ relating to a grant cannot continue to be met, it may look to claw back some of that money.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
