Bid to meet £3million costs
The landslip near Rothbury.
Work on a major landslip next to the B6344 in Rothbury continues but progress has been hampered by heavy snowfall in the area.
Repairs to the three areas of subsidence, on a 300-metre stretch of the road at Cragend, remain top priority for the county council’s highways team.
Specialists have been appointed to conduct essential geotechnical, ecological and land surveys and drilling investigation work will begin in the near future.
Northumberland County Council will submit an application for the recently announced Government pinch-point funding from the Department for Transport to help to pay for repairs to the embankment, road and surrounding area.
Barry Rowland, corporate director of local services at the county council, said: “Repairs to this important route into Rothbury are a priority for the council.
“The ground in this area was already very wet due to heavy rain when the incident first happened.
“Recent heavy snowfall has added to this problem but we are working on solutions to make the area safe and rectify the problem.”
The bid has been backed by local county councillor Steven Bridgett, who said: “This bid will need the support of the local community but crucially, local business and tourism will help form a key part of the economic case.
“I will be contacting the National Trust at Cragside, which is right on the periphery of the major slip, along with the National Park and our local shows such as Alwinton, Harbottle, Thropton and Rothbury Street and Food Fairs.
MP Sir Alan Beith, who visited the site of the landslide during Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander’s visit to Rothbury earlier this month, has also given his backing to the bid.
“I strongly support this bid and welcome the county council’s commitment to the people of Coquetdale in putting it forward,” he said.
“This road is absolutely essential for Rothbury and the whole valley.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northumberland
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
