PLANS are afoot to repair Dunston Staithes – part of the region’s coal mining heritage – and have them removed from the Heritage at Risk Register within the decade.

Opened in October 1893 after three years of work, the structure on the southern banks of the Tyne in Gateshead, was 1,709ft long and 50ft across at its widest point.

It is estimated 230,000 cubic feet of timber was used.

The outer north side of the staith had three ships berths and 1.5 million tonnes of coal was shipped in the first year of operation.

A second set of staithes, known as South Staithes, were commissioned in 1903 and by 1907 the combined facilities shipped 3.24 million tonnes of coal. They continued to be used until the 1970s and partially dismantled in 1980.

Surviving elements of the South Staithes were demolished in 1985.

In 2003, a fire destroyed about 20 metres of the structure, but the staithes are still reputed to be the largest wooden structure in Europe and are protected as a scheduled ancient monument.

Martin Hulse, secretary of the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, which has become responsible for the staithes, said: “There are plans to reopen the staithes during the summer. To do that quite a few improvements are necessary.

“There is fantastic view from the top of staithes of the bridges of Newcastle.”

The project will cost about £600,000.