AN ERODING riverbank in a Tyne village is posing a growing danger – but no-one will accept responsibility for repairs.
The south bank of the River Tyne at Haydon Bridge is crumbling daily, much to the consternation of people in houses and businesses yards away.
But the Environment Agency insists there is no flood risk yet, and says it would not take action until there is.
That has angered villagers, who say they know the river better than bureaucrats from afar.
Dennis Telford, who has lived all his 70 years in Haydon Bridge and owns business premises a dozen yards from the blackspot, says: “I’m not sure the Environment Agency knows the full extent of the problem.
“The river has changed. Boulders and pebbles have gathered in the middle of the river and created a channel to the south side, which is washing away the bankside.
“I have a business premises there so I called in the Environment Agency, but they came and took a look and said they wouldn’t be doing anything with it.
“They said putting defences in would not be cost-effective and they would act only if there were going to be problems in terms of flooding. But I don’t think they understand the full extent.”
Villagers also fear people walking on the south bank path could be caught out by a sudden collapse of the riverbank.
Parish councillor Mike Parkin, who lives opposite, said: “It’s very loose and has eaten back quite a lot of the riverside. It’s as if a giant hand has reached in and scooped it out.
“There were mature trees there and they have vanished, roots and all. There’s quite a gap, and even a moderate river is going to erode it further.
“Something needs to be done about it now. I can’t understand the Environment Agency because in 2000 there was a lot of erosion and they came and built it up. Whether there’s a shortage of money now, I don’t know.”
An Environment Agency spokeswoman told The Journal: “In our view the erosion at Haydon Bridge is not posing a flood risk, and as such we would not get involved. We have powers where we can take measures if there is potentially a flood risk, but we do not regard this erosion to be a risk.”
A second parish councillor, Howard Oliver, said: “It’s absurd. The longer we wait, the worse it gets, and the more it will cost to put it right.
“At the moment it wouldn’t cost very much – but it will if it’s left much longer.”
Coun Oliver added: “It’s only a few yards away from the residents’ gardens and business units and there is a potential for eroding far further.
“If it’s not considered to be in a dangerous condition now, then it certainly could be very soon.”
Joiner Basil Young, whose HQ stands less than 40ft from the eroded area, said: “I park my vans just three feet from the spot and if it goes any further I’ll not be able to use that spot.
“I’ve been flooded four times in the 30 years I’ve been here and the last time, three years ago, I had £19,000 of damage.
“I’ve been after them for years to dredge the centre of the river – they say there’s no change, but we who are here every day know differently.”
