A WATER COURSE which flows under the A66 road has been remodelled to help make it easier for fish to pass through.

The work's been done by Highways England at Skitwath Beck, Penruddock, about six miles from Penrith.

The project was completed over the summer and will make it easier for fish like brown trout, eels and Atlantic salmon to travel through.

This is especially important during the spawning season for salmon and trout when they need to travel upstream to lay eggs.

Dion Auriac, Highways England’s project manager, said: "This is a small but important project which will help support aquatic biodiversity at a location right along on the A66.

"It also underlines our commitment to reducing the impact of our roads on the environment.

"In this case by modifying a structure originally provided during the construction of the road."

As part of the modifications, which took a month to complete, a meandering two stage channel was fitted to the culvert base by bolting timbers to the concrete and backfilling the sides with gravel.

Stones were also fixed to the floor of the low flow channel to further break up the flow and provide refuge for juvenile fish making their way upstream.

New water gates, known locally as hecks, and fences were replaced.

The design was used so that as many river dwelling species as possible, including otters and eels, could benefit from the improvement.

It includes measures to reduce the speed of the flowing water and make it easier for more fish to move upstream but also provides multiple depths and roughened surfaces through the culvert giving a wider variety of species the capability of passing through.

Rachel Osborn is Highways England’s senior environmental specialist who developed the Skitwath Beck project.

She said: "The purpose was to enable fish to migrate through the culvert and access more habitat upstream.

"The addition of natural features benefits fish populations and the overall ‘health’ of the watercourse."

The scheme also supports other work delivered by local interest groups.

Danny Teasdale, of Ullswater Catchment Management Community Interest Company, said: "The improvement to Skitwath culvert is welcomed and complements other community work underway to improve natural habitat along the beck and the wider Ullswater catchment such as installing fencing to protect river banks and tree planting."

The 'fish easement' scheme was funded from a national five-year programme of special ‘designated funds’ – worth £936 million between 2020 and 2025.

Its aim is to improve the environment and wildlife along roads.