£1m to improve Teesdale water

5:30pm Sunday 30th November 2008

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A £1m project to improve river water quality and reduce flooding in Teesdale is essential for the environment, says a district councillor.

Work by Northumbrian Water to upgrade ten sewers in the Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Cotherstone and Egglestone areas begins this week.

The five-month scheme will improve the River Tees and smaller watercourses including Hudeshope Beck and the River Balder.

Leader of Teesdale District Council Richard Betton says as Teesdale rivers supply water to a large area of the region it is welcome news.

“This is not before time,” he said.

“The privatisation of the water board meant they were incentivised to build new reservoirs rather than maintain the existing ones.

“Around 50 per cent of all pollution incidents are down to the water companies and as Teesdale is one of the major suppliers to Darlington and Yorkshire it is doubly important that this work is carried out.”

The scheme will upgrade and service ten combined sewer overflows which are designed to discharge wastewater into separate watercourses during heavy rainfall.

Steve Gray, project manager for Northumbrian Water, said the work is part of an ongoing investment in the North-East’s rivers.

“Protecting and improving the environment is at the core of our business,” he said.

“Upgrading and screening combined sewer overflows significantly improves river water quality and we are investing £85 million between 2005 and 2010 to improve 500 overflows across the region.

“While we carry out the scheme in Barnard Castle and surrounding areas we are working closely with Durham County and Teesdale District Councils to plan the improvement work and customers should be reassured that we will do what we can to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Roadworks will be at the Barnard Castle junction of Flatts Road, Scar Top Road and Galgate from Monday January 5 for around 12 weeks and part of the back lane behind Raby Avenue will be closed from Monday January 26 for up to five weeks. Those travelling to and from Galgate to Horsemarket will not be affected.

For more information call Northumbrian Water customer care on: 0845-717-1100.