THE team behind the delivery of the £500,000 Hexham fish pass project has received a commendation at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The Institute of Civil Engineering North East organises the Robert Stephenson Awards every year as a celebration of civil engineering and Hexham-based BT Bell was recognised for its contribution.

The firm, a 10-strong team of consulting engineers based at Burn Lane, was established in the town 18 years ago and worked with Hexham’s Elliott Environmental Surveyors, the Environment Agency and the Tyne Rivers Trust, to deliver the project for Northumberland County Council.

And at a ceremony held in Newcastle on May 12, the finished scheme, which draws crowds to Hexham’s Tyne Bridge to see the salmon leaping, was up against seven other projects in its category.

The fish pass gives migrating fish an alternative route by-passing the bridge footings to swim up two low-gradient channels to continue on their journey up the Tyne.

BT Bell director, Brian Bell, said: “The fish pass has been so successful because it has removed the barrier on the river for trout, salmon and coarse fish.

“It’s not one of the biggest projects we have done, but it was challenging, because the work was against the back drop of a 220-year-old structure and within a major river.

“There are benefits for the economy and the environment with the impact that migratory fish have on things like fishing income and hotel bookings. But also, it will have a positive impact on the whole river system, the fly-life, wildlife and ecology.”