The issue of heavy metal contamination of the Tyne’s rivers has been one of the Tyne Catchment Partnership’s biggest concerns for some time. Action is being taken by the Environment Agency, in conjunction with the Coal Authority, Tyne Rivers Trust and other partners to address the issues caused by abandoned mines, principally in the South Tyne catchment.
In 2017 however it was recognised that the problems caused by metal contamination might go beyond direct river pollution, and a working sub-group of partners was established to look at the wider metals issues. The notes of the first meeting of the Tyne Metals Working Group can be found here.