A STRIP of land through a nature reserve will need to be dug up so a pipe can be laid underground for a major sewerage system upgrade.

Northumbrian Water Group will invest £700,000 in sewer improvements in the Durham Road area of Spennymoor to increase the capacity of its sewer network and reduce the risk of flooding.

As part of the scheme, work will be carried out within the Cow Plantation local nature reserve but project leaders have assured site owners Spennymoor Town Council that the natural environment will be protected.

Spennymoor Town Councillor Billy McAloon, chairman of the authority’s Cow Plantation committee, said: “After years of neglect we’ve been working on a plan with Durham County Council to improve the site and were starting to see it thrive.

“There has been some thinning out and ponds reinstated and we’ve seen lots more plant, animal and bird life recently like orchids we thought had disappeared and badgers nearby.

“On the face of it this work sounds bad but we’ve been promised everything will be put back or improved once it is finished so it should be good long-term.”

The work will be done by ESH-MWH and is set to start on Monday, October 16 and expected to take up to 16 weeks to complete.

A Northumbria Water Group spokesperson said: : “Temporary traffic management will be in place during our works and we will contact customers in advance who are directly affected, to ensure they are kept fully informed.

“We will also be holding an event where customers will get a chance to talk to our project team and ask any questions. Full details will be made available in due course.

“We are working closely in partnership with Durham County Council and Spennymoor Town Council to make sure any disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Cllr McAloon is keen for the reserve to be enhanced for wildlife and residents, with none-native plants cleared and more bins and benches installed.

An information stand will be held during Spennymoor Town Show at Jubilee Park on Saturday, September 2, with a view to reviving the Friends of Cow Plantation voluntary group.