We are in a protracted examination of the problem. The crux of which is that the Coal Authority have a statutory right to discharge this waste into our burn to protect the aquifer from which we all draw our drinking water. This is a sensible precaution to guard the water supply but the historical permission to pollute and destroy our local environment is what we are fighting against. At present we are engaging with:- the Environment Agency, Durham Counct Council, The Coal Authority, Bournmoor Conservation Group and the Department of the environment.

Chester-le-Street District Council Oversight and Scrutiny Committee are looking to investigate the state of watercourses within their area and we hope this will act as a catalyst for change locally. I will keep you informed.

What has not been mentioned in this reply is that the Environment Agency require the water discharged into the Lumley Park Burn to be of 'tolerable quality'. This implies that the water may have to receive treatment before discharge.

Have any enquiries been made to the Environment Agency to see if the discharged water is of tolerable quality?

If so, it would be interesting to see what they have to say.

Alan Vickers.

Yes regular reports of effluent and discharges are made to the Environment Agency. They sample and test the water/discharge in response to these reports and so far have described the levels of pollutants as "not likely to cause significant damage to the watercourse". The Council and Conservation group find this very hard to accept, as the visible ochre and obvious decline in plant and animal life belie this assessment. The Council have challenged this many times and will continue to do so. There is a new European Water Directive coming in so Council and the Conservation Group are trying to advance the early application of the new strictures that the regulation will enforce.

Any suggestions or further comment on this, and any other environmental issue are very welcome.

Thanks,
Paul.

The Community Association could no longer afford to occupy the building. Debts were in danger of piling up so Durham County Council, who owned the old school, have had to demolish it and are probably going to sell the site.