Plan to clean river of mining waste revealed

Sediment from mining works flows down the river and builds up in commercial docks

Plans for a £15.5m facility to clean a river of contaminated mine waste have been unveiled.

Newcastle City Council wants to build the River Tyne Restoration Facility (RTRF) at Bill Point, in Walker.

It is seeking the public's views on the project before it submits a planning application in 2025.

Leader of the council, Karen Kilgour, said the facility would rid the river of "centuries-old sediment".

Currently, contaminated sediment from former mines wash down the river and build up in its berths, making it harder for boats to dock.

The berths are used by a number of businesses such as Siemens, Technip and Baker Hughes.

Without the new site, the sediment would have to be dredged from the river and transported to landfill sites, which the council said was more expensive and damaging to the environment.

The council plans to build The River Tyne Restoration Facility at Bill Point, in Walker

The council successfully bid for £19.4m in Levelling Up funding it wants to spend on the project.

The authority also wants to create a new commercial site for an offshore energy or subsea manufacturer on the riverside.

"If left unchecked, the sediment will accumulate over time threatening global businesses and putting jobs at risk," the council said.

The consultation will last for four weeks.

A public event will take place on 23 October at Pottery Bank Community Centre, in Walker.