Proposed scheme aims to help fish migration on Northumberland river

Works are planned at the Haugh Head ford on Wooler Water, part of the Tweed catchment, to make it possible for fish to migrate upstream.

The event takes place at the Tankerville Arms Hotel in Wooler, on Wednesday, February 19, from 3.30pm to 7pm.

It had previously been scheduled for November but was postponed due to the General Election.

The plans are being promoted by the Environment Agency, with support from Natural England, the River Tweed Commission and the Tweed Forum.

While the Tweed catchment that is an excellent salmonid river, they say the Haugh Head ford currently inhibits fish passage upstream. They also say the scheme will remove the risk of failure of the ford by removing the structure entirely.

The main works comprise removal of the existing concrete ford crossing, regrading of the canalised section of the river, decommission of the fish pass and removal of the footbridge.

The channel of the Wooler Water would then be restored and regraded, with a new gravel ford crossing and new footbridge.

It is also planned to remove the upstream checkweirs and widen the approach to the Coldgate Mill ford crossing further upstream.

Wooler Parish Council had been critical of the original proposal in 2016, most notably the loss of a byway and footpath bridge, but has welcomed the revised plan.

For more information on the scheme, visit www.tweedforum.org and search ‘Haugh Head’ or call 01896 849723.