Major works to tackle historical pollution on the coast at Lynemouth are set to get underway this winter – as the council continues to put the environment at the heart of its plans.
The Council has allocated £5m to undertake the works on its land to clean up this stretch of coastline and stop historic waste deposits from washing into the sea in this area.
All the necessary planning and regulatory approvals have been secured for the scheme and the work has now been programmed to meet the optimal weather and ecological window for delivering the scheme. This means the main site set-up works will start in January 2024.
From April next year the actual excavation work will begin, separating the waste materials for safe off-site disposal and reinstating the landscape, with completion aiming for autumn 2024.
In the meantime, there will be minor works taking place this autumn, including groundwater sampling to monitor the existing contamination levels, and vegetation clearance to prevent common lizards and ground nesting birds from settling on site.
Council teams also continue to visit weekly to monitor and remove material from the beach, where able and safe to do so. The public is reminded they should not seek to remove material themselves.
All the necessary regulatory consents for the scheme have now been secured, along with the final waste recovery permit from the Environment Agency.
Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “This is a key project in our commitment to put the environment at the heart of everything we do.
“Not only are we tackling the contaminated land, we also know how unsightly these historic waste deposits washing onto the beach are, and we do pride ourselves on our beautiful beaches - so improving the general environment here is very important to us.
“As the scheme progresses we’re also finalising funding arrangements with the Coal Authority over the works needed on their land to the north of the Lyneburn, so we can do this as a single 'integrated' scheme, securing best value and delivering the best outcomes for the local environment and the communities in this part of Northumberland.”
Local ward county councillors Scott Dickinson and Liz Dunn said: “We remain optimistic although we recognise local people are feeling like this has stalled.
“We’ve pressed for this for years and will continue to work with the Council to ensure it happens.
“Delays outside the Council’s control we can accept but anything else will be challenged, it's an issue that must be tackled - which it seems we all recognise. The sooner this is cleared up, however complex it is, the better!”