The Tyne Rivers Trust welcomed the decision of the High Court, supporting the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Authority’s plans to construct a second Tyne tunnel.
“Although we are very aware of the environmental risks involved in the project and sympathise with the residents who will be affected by its construction, we look forward to continuing to work closely with TWPTA on the safeguards that will minimise the impact on the quality of the water in the Tyne during the construction of the tunnel.,†states Trust Chairman Andrew Davison.
“Subject to any appeal the decision will release mitigation funding that will enable us to forge ahead with several projects that will help to ensure the health of the river for generations to come. We have just completed an extensive public consultation process to identify key projects and will be launching an action plan for the river catchment in autumn this year,†he adds.
Prime among these projects are habitat improvements and a range of initiatives which will improve the health of the river and the enjoyment of it by its many users. Also planned is the construction of a new fish pass at Hexham to allow migratory fish, including salmon, sea trout and eels, better access to their spawning grounds on the upper reaches of the North and South Tyne. These projects are designed to mitigate the possible impact of the new tunnel works on fish passing through the estuary. Many other catchment projects will be carried out in the coming years, subject to the necessary funding being made available.
“We will be analysing what people have told us during the past six months to finalise our action plan,†says Project Manager Archie Ruggles-Brise. “We have held meetings the length of the river system and heard from a wide range of interest groups, from walkers and bird watchers to canoeists and fishermen and many local residents. We hope to improve the enjoyment of the river and its catchment for all these groups in the coming years. The targeted funding that is available to us as a result of the decision to proceed with the new tunnel gives us a great start.â€
The Tyne Rivers Trust is a registered charitable trust established in March 2005 and works impartially to safeguard the health of the River Tyne and its tributaries and the enjoyment of them for future generations. The Trust aims to complement the work of statutory and other bodies and its aims parallel those of river trusts set up over the past decade to carry out similar projects on other major rivers around the UK.
