Landslip repairs after storm to cost council £3.5m

Glen Sanderson at the landslip on the B6343 at Mitford near Morpeth.
He is standing next to wooden fence on the right and wears a suit and a tie.
Water is running down the centre of the road with traffic cones surrounding the small stream. A blue circle sign with a white arrow pointing to the left is put in the middle of the road. — Image caption,
Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson said the works would be "significant"

15 August 2024

A series of "urgent" repairs following a landslip are expected to cost more than £3.5m, a council has revealed.

An embankment on the B6343 Mitford Road near Morpeth, Northumberland, failed after heavy rain during last year's Storm Babet.

Northumberland County Council confirmed work would begin towards the end of the year, after previously being held up while a permit was obtained from the Environment Agency.

The Conservative-led authority said it was "working hard" to reduce the cost of the project where possible.

Council leader Glen Sanderson said the works would be "significant" and expected to run into the new year.

Information on road closures and diversions will be available when the design is complete and the construction contractor is appointed.

"Recent bad weather has cost the county council millions in landslips and this is another example of us having to find extra money again, but we have to do it for everyone's safety," Mr Sanderson added.

"We are getting on with this work as quickly as we can and in the meantime thank you for all the patience you have shown - it is a major engineering project, and these things do take time."

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