Coastal Landfill Issues in Northumberland

Druridge Bay / Lynemouth landfill

A walk along the beach should be pleasurable. But for people walking in Lynemouth Bay it’s unpleasant.

Coastal erosion has uncovered an old colliery, industrial and household waste landfill site and, while the council don’t believe it’s harmful, the old mud cliff is unsightly.

Many local volunteer litter pickers have tried to clean the rubbish but, because it’s an old landfill site, the rubbish just keeps on coming.

High tides wash more soil and rubbish into the sea, and this washes up further up the beach in Cresswell and Druridge Bay.

Keeping an eye on the mud cliff is one thing but it’s not really going to address the situation. The waste is also affecting the river Lyne causing a massive decline in fish numbers. That in turn means less food for birds and animals to feed on.

The council doesn’t have the money to invest the millions of pounds it would need to excavate the site. Given that this problem is not going away, and Lynemouth is not alone in having a coast landfill site, I believe the government has to address it as part of a national environmental strategy.

I’m really pleased that Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan has got involved (finally). She says the Labour party has long neglected the area so let’s see if she’s prepared to put her money where her mouth is and get this issue sorted for Lynemouth people.

I'm calling for the Environment Agency and Council to step up to the plate and take action here. I note that they claim it is "not harmful" but I am concerned and believe it will continue to cause long lasting issues if it's not resolved.