I do not think anyone has posted anything about this yet?
If they have then I stand corrected.
We were passing the bridge on the Alston Middleton road over the Garrigill Burn, today.
We noticed an enormous crane by the side of the road, and work being carried out on the bridge?
My guess is following the review of all Cumbria’s bridges after the floods of a couple of years ago, this bridge has been found to need to some urgent repairs.
Now the tailings from the levels working, Browngill Burn were just piled into the Burn here, and the road constructed on top of these. Presumably someone has realised all of this, and has recommended the work being carried out here.
We did not have time to look around the site, it was getting dark! However some local, interested person should have a look to see, these engineering activities have opened anything else. e

I think that they are doing something with the lower part of the river culvert. Someone will know the details as I've only got this second hand...

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This is an EA project managed by the Coal Authority. The objective is to reduce the amount of mine dump material entering the burn and causing pollution throughout the length of the River Tyne ( Including pollution from many other sites). The culvert is being repaired and strengthened. The crane is there to lower materials and men into the hole. The east side of the hole has been covered with membrane to prevent further movement of material during the work. A little practical difficulty is that if the wind speed exceeds 20mph, the work has to stop.
The agreed planning application can be found on the Eden District Council planning portal.
Lesser works have also been agreed east of the road in order to prevent erosion of the stream banks. most of this work will be of the low-tech type with some timber structures and some walling. Eden Planning portal has several agreed documents.
I have some images of the crane - I have posted them.

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I personally think the hidden agenda, here, is what if there is a lot of rainfall, and somehow the outlet becomes blocked and hence builds, up water behind into an artificial lake, which subsequently bursts releasing these tailings into the South Tyne?
My other concern is the whereabouts of an intermediate level on Browngill Vein, i.e. the one below Whitesyke but above the one at the bottom of the valley.
We looked for it but couldn’t find it, just wondering if these ‘side works’ as indicated by Peter might just interect it? It is supposed to be in the area of the bridge.

The level is on the north side of the burn at NY7477 4236.

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Hi Peter,
Thanks for the info, had a look through the coal board’s submission to Eden District council, and they mention the fact that a few years ago a sizeable amount of the tip went down the burn, hence putting up the heavy metal amounts in the South Tyne.
I think that since it was stated there just reinforces what I stated earlier about the reasons for carrying out this important work.