Historic pollution clean-up works getting underway
05 Mar 2024
Major works to tackle historical pollution on the coast at Lynemouth are getting underway.
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 with weather improving, the main site set-up works will start in March 2024 led by contractor BAM Nuttall.
Between June and September the actual excavation work will take place, separating the waste materials for safe off-site disposal and reinstating the landscape, with completion aiming for autumn 2024.
Council teams have continued to visit the site to monitor and remove waste material being eroded from the cliffs and washed onto the beach, where able and safe to do so. This activity will continue up until the main works start in June 2024. The public is reminded that for health and safety reasons they should not seek to remove waste material from the beach themselves.
Council Leader Glen Sanderson said: “We’re delighted to have secured all the necessary permissions and are now in a position to implement this major clean-up project that will significantly improve the environment along this part of the county’s coastline which has been blighted by past industrial activity.
“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, but we also know how unsightly these historic waste deposits washing onto the beach are, - so improving the overall environment here is very important to us.
"It’s going to be a busy few months but we are determined to improve the environment and support nature recovery in this area for the benefit of local residents, visitors and our wildlife for years to come”.
Local ward county councillors Scott Dickinson and Liz Dunn said: “We know local people have been frustrated for some time and this has taken a huge amount of joint effort that we were pleased to give.
“We are delighted to see more work set to take place and for all agencies needed financially contributing and we recognise their support and commitment which is now matching ours.
“We look forward to the day when this is fully rectified and local people along with visitors can safely enjoy this strip of the coast.”