Thousands check plans of major water pipeline
AROUND 6,500 people have visited a digital exhibition offering a virtual glimpse into a sixyear long project to refurbish a 109km pipeline.
Affected residents in Hyndburn and elsewhere into United Utilities’ ( UU) Haweswater Aqueduct proposals are being asked for their views.
The information can be seen online, after Covid lockdown called a halt to planned public exhibitions.
To carry out the mammoth engineering project and subsequent land reinstatement - expected to take six years - several working areas will need to be set up across the route of the pipe, stretching from Huncoat, through Haslingden and into Bury.
United Utilities say a tunnelling machine will be working to dig the way for the new pipe, and once it sets off it will run 24 hours a day. Potential impacts of works include noise and tree/hedgerow removal, both of which the firm say they will try to minimise.
One of the project’s main surface features will be the creation of compound areas - to store equipment and provide offices for the project team during construction.
A major compound at Bolton Avenue, Huncoat will see works in the area for approximately three years, with up to six vehicle movements per hour at peak times. A mine grouting area at Plantation Road is expected to see a similar level of activity for around a year.
Huncoat councillor Dave Parkins said they were still waiting for feedback from the results of extensive local surveys, although he believed the potential issue of a large number of wagon movements had now been mitigated.
He added: “It looks like [the compound] is just beyond the play area.
“They were going to be moving a lot of spoil, but apparently now they’re doing it from the Rossendale end. We had a consultation meeting with them at Scaitcliffe House earlier this year.
“I invited them to Huncoat Forum which they couldn’t come to, and we haven’t heard anything since.”
UU say the works will secure fresh drinking water for 2.5 million people, and wider benefits will include a “huge investment” in the local and regional economy, and the creation of new jobs.
They add that vehicle movements to and from compounds will be limited to 7am to 7pm on weekdays, and 7am to 1pm at weekends and they are working closely with Lancashire County Council to reduce the impact on traffic.
To do this they may need some temporary traffic management.
A United Utilities spokesperson said: “Around 6,500 people have visited our digital exhibition showcasing proposals to refurbish the Haweswater Aqueduct.
“We’re delighted with the response so far but there’s still time for people to take a look at our plans and have their say or speak to a member of our project team.”
The company is also planning to host online video meetings with councillors, MPs and other stakeholders.
Planning applications - along with environmental surveys - are expected to be published early next year. If planning is approved, construction is planned to begin from 2023.
You can view the plans at www.harpconsultation.co.uk or call 0800 298 7040.
BOLTON Avenue compound
A tunnelling compound where the Tunnel Boring Machine will finish constructing the route of the new pipeline and be removed from the ground. UU will be working in this area for approximately three years. Access to the Bolton Avenue construction site will be from the A56 to the A679 (Burnley Road), then along Bolton Avenue. The typical number of vehicle movements to and from the Bolton Avenue compound will be between two and six per hour, though there may be more than this for a fourweek period when the tunnelling machine arrives from the Haslingden Road compound and when the new tunnel is connected to the existing aqueduct.
PLANTATION Road - mine grouting area
Ground stabilisation area near to Plantation Road. UU will be working in this area for around a year. Access will be from the A56 and using local lanes to various access points. The typical number of vehicle movements to and from the Plantation Road Mine Grouting Area will be between six and eight per hour.