THE BARRAGE AND ITS WHITE WATER COURSE
The barrage is an interesting engineering structure developed by the Teesside Development Corporation and opened in 1995. It impounds water upstream and therefore provides a consistent water level as a backdrop to key developments such as the Teesdale Office Park, Stockton town centre and Yarm. Adjacent to the barrage is a white water canoe course. The course is currently tidally driven using the difference in levels between the impounded water upstream and the tidal water downstream. A major project has been put together to invest nearly £5 million in the course to upgrade it into a world class white water canoeing/rafting facility. The location has already been designated a London 2012 training destination and the current proposals are to start the major course upgrade in Autumn 2009 for completion in Spring 2010.
The course when upgraded will be:
o One of the top ten in the World.
o The only sustainable white water course in the World.
o Capable of meeting the needs of users from elite to novice.
o And has already been designated as an Olympic training camp venue.
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Adjacent to the navigation lock at the barrage is an area of land which has been marketed. A developer has been selected who is currently developing a scheme based on leisure facilites, food and drink offer.
