£6.2m flooding scheme will see market stalls moved

Durham County Council’s (DCC) county planning committee discussed plans to reopen a stretch of the Cong Burn river which runs under Chester-le-Street’s Market Place.

DCC have previously said the £6.2m scheme will “address repeated and severe flooding incidents” with a range of flood barrier extensions and pipe diversions.

The authority has also committed £1.5m for the scheme and is applying to the Environment Agency and European Regional Development Fund for the remainder of the funds.

Councillors sitting at Durham County Hall were widely supportive of the scheme, which was carried by a unanimous vote.

During and after the works, market stalls will relocate to Front Street with the existing watercourse at Market Place transformed into a public realm feature.

A report states the changes would see a move from fixed market stalls with works to “declutter the street scene, widen footpaths and modify the bus turning circle,” at the market’s new home.

It adds: “Whilst it could be considered that the loss of the existing market place is a negative impact there have been no objections received to indicate that this is the case.”

Coun Craig Martinsaid the scheme would “bring natural beauty into the centre of town” and promote regeneration but added some residents were still “sceptical” about the idea.

“There are still a lot of risks associated with this project and we do need to tread carefully as this project continues,” he added.

“The council need to bring the residents along with them in this project unless they will have no faith that it’s going to happen.”

The committee also heard a decision to leave the culvert open – as opposed to installing a grid – would be safer and help to prevent blockages which could cause flooding.

In response to a question from Coun Alan Bell over wider flooding concerns in Chester-le-Street, senior planning officer, Chris Shield, said the scheme could be expanded to the east in the future.

Coun Mark Wilkes also raised concerns about the market shifting to Front Street from access for neighbours and parking for market traders to creating a “safe street scene” for pedestrians.

Officers told councillors that Front Street would not have the same capacity as the previous pitch with less parking facilities but that the arrangement of stalls would be flexible.

A funding decision on the flooding scheme is expected to be announced later this year.

Durham County Council’s Flood Alleviation Scheme

Site One: 10-metre extension to existing floodwall and 80-metre-long earth bund to the north and west of Menceforth Cottages.

Site Two: Installation of new floodwall between Menceforth Cottages and the railway viaduct.

Site Three: 11-metre-long retaining wall around existing culvert and highway.

Site Four: Existing marketplace being relocated to Front Street to allow the culvert to be reopened under Market Place alongside the creation of a new river feature surrounded by fencing.

Site Five: Relocating existing sewer out of the culvert near Cone Terrace which has been identified as a risk to water flowing through the culvert. Works at the site are expected to last around 12 months.

Chris Binding , Local Democracy Reporting Service