After years of planning and preparation, the final go-ahead has been given for major works to tackle historic pollution on the coast at Lynemouth.
The £5 million project, which is being led by Northumberland County Council, will see the removal of contaminated waste from the beach and dunes at Lynemouth. The waste, which is thought to date back to the 19th century, is a legacy of the former coal-fired power station that operated at Lynemouth until 2013.
Containing heavy metals such as lead and mercury, the waste will be cleaned up in two phases. The first part of the cleanup will focus on cleaning up most of the contaminated waste from the beach, beginning in winter 2023/24. Once this has been completed, the second phase will begin in 2025 to ensure that the remaining contaminated waste is removed from the dunes.
The clean-up work is expected to take around two years to complete. The council has said that it will keep the public updated on the progress of the work.
Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said:
“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.”
The clean-up of the historic pollution at Lynemouth is an important project for a number of reasons. First, it will help to protect the environment. The contaminated waste is a potential hazard to people and wildlife. The clean-up will help to reduce the risk of people and animals being exposed to the harmful contaminants.
Second, the clean-up will help to improve the quality of the beach at Lynemouth. The contaminated waste has made the beach unsightly and unsafe for recreation. The clean-up will help to restore the beach to its former glory.
Third, the clean-up will help to boost the local economy. The clean-up work will create jobs and attract visitors to the area. The council has said that it is working with local businesses to ensure that they benefit from the clean-up.
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.”
