Royal visit to award-winning water treatment works

22/11/2005

HRH The Princess Royal will visit Northumbrian Water’s new drinking water treatment works in Weardale on Wednesday 30 November.

The Princess will tour the Wear Valley Water Treatment Works at Wearhead from 12.00 noon to 1.00pm.

Reporters and photographers who wish to cover the visit must apply for accreditation by contacting Alistair Baker or Cara Hall at Northumbrian Water on 0191 301 6851 as soon as possible. Access to the site will not be possible without prior permission.

The unique treatment works, which have been supplying some 250,000 customers in parts of Sunderland, Bishop Auckland and the Wear Valley since commissioning last year have already won 11 awards for design, innovation and environmental achievement including producing their own energy.

Constructed in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in national parkland, the works were designed to blend into their beautiful surroundings and constructed in natural stone and slate in the style of a Weardale farmstead.

To further minimise impact two thirds of the buildings are underground and in the surrounding hillside. The new works have replaced two old works – one which was on the site of the new works – and the other at Tunstall, lower down the Wear Valley.

Northumbrian Water Chairman, Sir Frederick Holliday, who will escort Her Royal Highness, said: “These are most remarkable works which look nothing like a traditional water treatment plant. They are exceptional in design and performance and we are honoured and proud that the Princess has chosen to visit this very special place.”

While at Wear Valley the Princess Royal will also watch the presentation of a power sports wheelchair to a pupil from the Percy Hedley School, Forest Hall, Newcastle, where the Princess recently opened its sports academy.
She will meet Winifred Colman from Durham and Sibyl Eltringham from Hartburn, Stockton on Tees, who are granddaughters of Peter Lee the clean water crusader whose name was given to the County Durham new town.

In the 1930’s Peter Lee was behind the creation of Burnhope reservoir which overlooks and supplies the present treatment works – and which provided safe water for the people of the Sunderland and Easington area combating epidemic diseases like cholera.

All 29 children from classes at Weardale Primary school have been invited to meet the Princess and for nine-year-old Rebecca Robinson it will be extra special as she has been chosen to present a posy.

Water treatment in the Wear Valley is a truly family affair.

During the visit the Princess will meet David Pattinson, Northumbrian Water’s Wear Valley Team Leader.

David’s father Kenneth worked on the construction and operation of the reservoir, David’s older brother Neil was superintendent of the old Wearhead filtration plant - which the new works replaces - and Neil’s son Ian is currently in charge of the maintenance of the new works.

For further information contact: Alistair Baker on 0191 301 6851 (mobile 07711 793 493) or Cara Hall on 0191 301 6720 (mobile 07764 926 728).