New site needed for workers and HGVs travelling to Forest of Bowland for Haweswater Aqueduct scheme

A new site is needed near Clitheroe to transport construction workers and organise heavy good vehicles travelling to the Forest of Bowland for the Haweswater Aqueduct water tunnel scheme.

Water firm United Utilities had hoped to use a site owned by Ribblesdale cement owner Heidelberg Industries for a Haweswater workers’ park-and-ride site and heavy goods vehicle marshalling area.

But now, Heidelberg says the site will not be available for the time required for the water tunnel scheme. So a different location near Clitheroe’s Pimlico Link Road is being looked at. A new planning application for that could follow in the new year, Ribble Valley councillors are being told.

Ribble Valley Council’s planning committee is due for an update on Thursday, November 28, on the Haweswater scheme, officially called the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme (HARP). It will include information about how businesses can claim for any loss of profits during the Bowland work.

Some borough and county councillors such as Kevin Horkin and Ged Mirfin have called for Ribble Valley Council to produce an economic impact assessment of the HARP scheme. The district is home to rural businesses including farms, pubs, hospitality and wedding venues which, some fear, could be impacted by the HARP work.

United Utilities aims to build a new water tunnel from Haweswater in the Lake District to Greater Manchester. An existing older pipeline along the route is said to be insufficient for modern needs. But the upgrade plan has sparked some controversy and questions including its impact on rural businesses, disruption to communities, roads, traffic, farming and environmental implications.

A Ribble Valley planning update says that since the planning decisions were issued, United Utilities have formally tendered for a contractor to undertake the works. Current estimates are for the contract to be awarded in spring of 2025 and for the discharge, or sign-off, of conditions and section 106 financial obligations by 2025.

Road improvements, enabling works, haulage road and river crossings and site access works are expected in late 2025. Then the main compound set-up and construction work is expected in 2026. But the estimated programme may change when a contractor has been appointed.

Regarding sites near Clitheroe, a council planning update says the original proposed and consented location for a workers’ park-and-ride site was west of West Bradford Road. It has an existing staff car park used by cement works employees. It would have been for private cars and light goods vehicles transporting Haweswater workers. They would go in minibuses for the final journey to the Marl Hill and Newton-in-Bowland construction compounds, reducing traffic towards and through Waddington.

Now, an alternative temporary site is being looked at west of Pimlico Link Road, between the A59 and Lincoln Way, north-east of Clitheroe town centre. The idea is subject to environmental impact consideration and will be subject to a separate full planning application in the new year, the report states,

Regarding the economic impact, the council report adds: “United Utilities has an established process for claiming loss of profits. It has committed to establishing a local authority partnership forum for the duration of the project, secured through the legal agreement, and would appoint a dedicated community liaison officer who would have a visible presence. Through the community forum and liaison officer this enables events to be planned pro-actively, ensuring potential adverse impacts are mitigated wherever possible

“The planning committee should be advised that the local authority partnership has been formed and meetings have commenced. These will become more regular as construction works
commence.”

A link to the United Utilities claims for loss of profit scheme is included in the council planning report.

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