THE Government’s Coal Authority will be putting on sessions for members of the public to discuss proposals for a mine water treatment scheme.

The proposals for the scheme in Nenthead have raised many questions from members of the small rural community, and sparked fears among residents of bad smells which may reach as far as Alston.

According to the Coal Authority, the proposed Caplecleugh mine water treatment scheme project, which is part of its water and abandoned metal mines programme, aims to fix water pollution caused by historic metal mining in the area.

Members of the project team will be regularly available in the village to speak to residents informally on the mezzanine of The Hive, Nenthead.

The dates and times of these informal drop-in sessions are: August 10 from 11am to 1pm then 2pm to 3pm; September 29 from 1pm to 3pm; October 14 from 10am to 12pm; November 25 from 1pm to 3pm and; December 15 from 10am to 12pm.

The authority said they will arrange more formal face-to-face meetings when they have substantial new information to share.

Currently, they expect their next public engagement session to be in the autumn.

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