Member Article

Final stage of £5m Saltburn scheme begins to boost North East beaches and tourism

The third phase of a £5m scheme to improve bathing water quality at Saltburn is to begin next month, an initiative to help preserve the North East’s tourism and leisure industry by limiting sewage water spillage.

This two-and-a-half-month phase of work will begin on Monday August 10 and will involve transferring waste water from Dunsdale sewage treatment works (STW) to Marske STW.

When waste water arrives at Marske STW, it will be treated and also disinfected with ultra violet light before being discharged to sea through the existing long sea outfall. Waste water which is currently treated at Dunsdale STW is discharged into Skelton Beck.

More than 110 metres of new sewer pipe will be installed along a section of Redcar Road, along a section of the unnamed road which runs parallel to the gable end of 1 Redcar Road and in the farmer’s field to the rear of Redcar Road.

A new surface water drainage gully will also be constructed in Redcar Road, near Dunsdale STW. Dunsdale STW will be decommissioned in October, once the transferred waste water is being treated at Marske STW.

It will be necessary to close a section of Redcar Road, near Dunsdale Farm, from Monday August 17 to Sunday August 30 2015 and a traffic diversion will be in place along the A173 and the A174.

Northumbrian Water will provide a free shuttle bus which will transfer passengers from Dunsdale and Yearby to Kirkleatham, so they can link up with the diverted services there.

Steve Gray, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said: “The Saltburn bathing water scheme will significantly reduce the frequency and volume of spills to water courses from the sewer network, during times of heavy rainfall, and will make an improvement to the quality of water in local streams and rivers and also to sea water quality.

“This investment reflects our commitment to protecting our beautiful coastline and our understanding of the importance of the impact of North East beaches on tourism, the economy and the leisure industry in our region.”