Spring Clean for Durham and Darlington Rivers

Environment Agency officers and officers from Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council join forces to hold a spring clean on the River Wear in Durham on Tuesday 29 May and the River Skerne in Darlington on Thursday 31 May.

The Environment Agency, Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council have teamed up to support this year’s annual Litter Free Durham Big Spring Clean by organising a river clean-up to reduce the risk of flooding and improve the appearance of the area.

The Environment Agency’s operations delivery team have an annual maintenance programme to clear obstructions from rivers that might cause a flood risk. The councils will help to collect any debris and litter and take it away for safe disposal or to be recycled.

Andrew Foster in the Environment Agency’s operations deliver team said:

“The Environment Agency normally only removes debris that could cause an obstruction, and a flood risk. So this is a great opportunity to pool resources with the councils to clear all litter and debris we find in the rivers and have a thorough spring clean.

Our teams are trained to work in deep water, using specialised equipment and protective suits to remove debris from the river. We expect we’ll find shopping trolleys, traffic cones, tyres and other fly-tipped rubbish, which is not only unsightly, but could increase the risk of flooding in bad weather if it gets washed further downstream.”

Councillor Gerald G. Lee, chair of Litter Free Durham said:

"I am delighted and thank the Environment Agency and local authorities for supporting Litter Free Durham's Big Spring Clean. By removing litter from our streets and rubbish from our rivers we are working together to help make the north east an even better place to live.”

Litter Free Durham’s Big Spring Clean 2012 campaign has helped to arrange litter picks every day over one month across Durham and Darlington, to free the area of litter. The campaign is in partnership with Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council.