More than £4m is to be spent on flooding prevention schemes in County Durham over the next 14 months.
Tindale Beck has been allocated £343,000 for 2014/15; a scheme which will be led by the Environment Agency, while Etherley Lane has been allocated £10,000 for 2013/14 and a further £50,000 for 2014/15.
Durham County Council put in a number of successful bids for funding to the Environment Agency, which means important work to protect communities from flooding across the county can go ahead.
The schemes were identified during investigations by Durham County Council following significant flooding in a number of areas caused by extreme rainfall in 2012, with Tindale bypass becoming so flooded that the road had to be closed to traffic.
Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships at Durham County Council, welcomed the funding. He said, “We are currently seeing how flooding is having a devastating effect on people’s lives and businesses in the south of England. “Many people here in County Durham have also experienced the disruption and difficulties that flooding can cause and this is something we want to try to prevent in the future. “This funding will allow us to go ahead with important schemes which are designed to protect towns and villages from flooding. “It is particularly pleasing that, at a time when all councils are facing financial difficulties, we have been able to secure the funding for this work which will bring huge benefits to local people.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
