Good Morning folks,

We're progressing fairly comfortably with our 450mm diamter drainage now up the Eastern boundary of the former University carpark on Territorial Lane. The footpath diversion has been temporarily closed with pedestrian access now reinstated to Elvet Waterside. Despite hoping to get Elvet Waterside reopened this week we've encountered unforseen issues below ground and are working hard to overcome these asap. We expect Elvet Waterside to be closed for another fortnight but will of course endeavour to reopen ASAP.

The Northern area of the carpark is now sitting ready to commence tunnelling works on 18th November which we expect to take around 4 weeks. This will include temporary 3-way traffic signals in Territorial Lane and Old Elvet with entry to Territorial Lane being Right Turn Only and exiting Territorial Lane being Left Turn Only. I will update you all closer to the time on this one.

As always, please do be vigilant when walking around this area as there are a lot of large vehicle movements from ourselves and our neighbours Thompsons of Prudhoe who are carrying out works for the adjacent Durham University Business School Development. Please pay attention to all signage and don't be afraid to report anything untoward to one of my team who're always on hand to help out.

As ever, you can get me on 07814785021 or Colin.Butler@jnbentley.co.uk if you have any questions, queries or issues!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Colin

Good afternoon everyone, 

I have been for a walk on site today and witnessed several pedestrians attempting to walk through our working area down at the Elvet Waterside, distracted by their mobile phones.

We have a temporary footpath diversion in place that is funnelling pedestrians from Baths Bridge through the University carpark and onto Territorial Lane. Please take note of the signage that is there for your safety, please stick to the footpath.

Did you know?

13% of people have walked into someone or something while checking their mobile phone, with the figure rising to 43% for younger generations.

Don’t be a Smombie, stay safe.

Thanks 

Good Afternoon everyone,

I thought I'd take the opportunity to introduce myself whilst I'm sitting in the office listening to the torrential rain.

I'm Colin and I will be the Mott Macdonald Bentley (MMB) Site Agent managing the Durham project on behalf of NWG. Some of you may remember me from our project in Flass Vale last year. This sheme, along with Flass Vale is part of a Civil Engineering solution to remedy potential pollution events within the Durham City catchment area. 

You'll see that we have made a start on Elvet Waterside, which is currently closed whilst we create a new outfall to transfer surface water flows (such as the substantial volumes falling right now) into the River Wear. Most of Durham still has both sewage and surface water running through the same underground network and we, along with NWG will be separating the Two in order to give a cleaner, safer and altogether more manageable solution to what is a real growing problem.

The more our cities and populations grow, the more roofs we build and hardstanding surfaces such as carparks and driveways, the more rainfall our antiquated drainage network has to deal with. You can definitely all help in your own way too! Please remember that nothing other than toilet paper should go down your loo! and also that wet wipes are the devil!

Can I please add a cautionary note regarding Elvet Waterside. We currently have a temporary footpath diversion in place that is funnelling pedestrians from Baths Bridge through the University carpark and onto Territorial Lane. Please take note of the signage that is there for your benefit and stick to the footpath. You'll get a good view of what it is we're doing as we progress with laying new drainage but if you're curious, please do ask any member of our team who will be only too happy to help where they can.

I will update this portal regularly with anything that will be pertinent but please don't hesitate to contact me at Colin.Butler@jnbentley.co.uk or my colleague Sarah-Jayne on SarahJayne.vickers@jnbentley.co.uk

Thank You

Colin A Butler

Good afternoon all, 

Traffic management has started on The Elvet Waterside for 6 weeks whilst we construct the outfall, there is also Traffic management along Old Elvet up to Whinney Hill, this will be moved along as our works progess throughout the week, to carry out ground investigation samples. The site compound at the old DLI is set up as is the one on Green Lane.

I will keep you posted on our progress, in the meantime if you have any questions please comment below or alternatively use the contact us at the top of the page. 

Thanks 

Sarah Jayne Vickers

Afternoon All, just a quick reminder to say we are arriving on site Monday.

The first week will involve establishing both compounds, one on Green Lane and the other at the old DLI off Framwellgate Peth.

Week commencing the 16th September investigation work will start down at The Elvet Waterside, the parking spaces have been closed for 6 weeks whilst we carry out the investigation work, and works on the new outfall into the River Wear.

If you have any questions please dont hesitate to contact us using the comments section below.

Thanks 

Sarah Jayne Vickers 

MMB Customer Liaison Officer

Good morning, we want to keep you up to date with work we are planning in the next stage of this project, which is located at The Elvet Riveside.

A £2 million scheme will begin on Monday 9th September as the first stage of work to reduce flood risk and protect the environment in The Elvet Riverside area of Durham City. This will be done by constructing new sewers in Elvet Waterside, Old Elvet and Whinney Hill.

The work will be carried out by Mott MacDonald Bentley and will take around 12 months to complete. To allow us to undertake the work safely, temporary traffic lights will be required for the duration of the work along Old Elvet and Whinney Hill. We will also need to close sections of Elvet Waterside in the vicinity of Baths footbridge and Elvet Bridge to allow work to be undertaken. We will write to everyone likely to be affected by these road closures nearer the time and provide regular updates on here.

If you have any questions please leave a comment below, for one of the project team to respond to or alternatively use the 'contact us' option at the top of the page.

Thanks 

Sarah Vickers

MMB Customer Liaison Officer

Good afternoon, just wanted to share a couple of photos with you showing the seeds are now starting to germinate. Think the seeds, as well myself have been enjoying the sunshine we have had over the past week.

Thanks 

Sarah

You may have seen us in our masses on Wednesday morning with the Friends of Flass Vale. The MMB Team were Lee Buchanan, Colin Butler, Tom Mann, Mark Morrell, Sarah Jayne Vickers, Joan Tatters, Marc Bell, Pat Corris and we were joined by Mark Morris (NWG), Phil Taylor and Jamie Stansbie from T&T. We all took part in a number of activities including digging, planting, transporting heavy wheels barrows full of materials. We planted in the Vale some Vipers Bugloss and Ferns, the ferns were dug up from the orchard and we re-planted them. The soil removed to replant them was transported back to the orchard to fill the holes. 

We even caught the attention of a little boy called James (aged 5) who asked if he could join us, James did some digging for us and also joined us for a little refreshment break. (Chocolate fingers and apple juice, went down a treat!) I would like to thank James for his help and most importantly his stories, about chewing rocks. I hope you and your Daddy had an amazing day and found loads more clues on your visit to the vale. 

At the end of a hard morning with the Friends of Flass Vale well all sat down with much needed refreshments.

A great mornings work for a great cause!

Good Afternoon everyone,

I've returned to work to find that our area of works is now fully reinstated with fencing and landscaping completed and only awaiting cultivating and seeding. Things have gone swimmingly in my absence, which I can't help feeling may not be entirely coincidental! We expect the seeding to be carried out next week during a break in the rather ridiculous weather we've been suffering. That will most likely be the last you see of us as we move our separate ways onto new projects.

A great big Thank You from me and on behalf of my wonderful team who have successfully delivered a very complex project on time, within budget and most importantly, without hurting anyone. You have all contributed to what has been a really successful scheme with your consistent communication, adherence with requests and most importantly, your unwavering patience, without which, this project may have proven to be as difficult as I expected when I first visited. It's a real pleasure to have worked within such a tight-knit community and ultimately, improve a truly beautiful corner of Durham. (I've added some recent photographs of the vale below)

You will see me next week handing out tea and coffee and supervising our volunteers when we spend a couple of hours with the Friends of Flass Vale group working in the vale. This will commence at 10:00 on the 10th April and I may even chuck in a biscuit if you come and say Hi!

Thanks again,

Colin

Good morning All, we are making good progress and are in the final sates of the project. Last week we completed the resurfacing at Flassburn Road to remedy any wear and tear caused by vehicles accessing the site. I understand there may have been an issue getting bins emptied at Springwell Avenue and apologise for this. Usually we would drag the bins to an area the wagon can access, however due to the weather conditions we didn’t think this was a good idea. I have contacted Durham County Council to log the missed collection, they have advised a wagon will return over the next couple of days, if possible could you leave you bins out so they can be accessed.

We have a busy week planned in this week, working in the Vale, building steps, laying footpaths, fencing as well as landscaping and seeding.

We would like to thank you for your patience throughout this project and If you have any questions or concerns please use the contact us button at the top of the page.

Thanks

Sarah