NORTHUMBRIAN Water is pressing ahead with a development which will bring new work to a job-starved dale.
An application to build a £15m water treatment works on the site of the Burnhope reservoir, in Upper Weardale, is due to go before Wear Valley District Council.
Northumbrian Water spokesman Alistair Baker said: "It will also mean a mini-boom for the economy of Upper Weardale."
He said the utility would be looking to employ local labour skilled in the use of stone, slate and timber during the two-year construction period.
It will mean the closure of the existing treatments works at Burnhope and at Tunstall reservoir further down the dale.
Mr Baker assured the workforces there that there would be no reduandancies - "but there will have to be some redeployment of staff."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article