Valley residents told of water work impact
United UtilitiesPeople living in a valley can find out how environmental improvement work being carried out by a water firm will impact them.
United Utilities plans to replace swathes of aging conifers around Haweswater Reservoir in Cumbria with native species, and remove old infrastructure including a disused weir and pipework, at Blea Water to return the site to a more natural state.
During the work measures will have to be taken which could affect access, parking and rights of way. It said it was working on ways to limit issues.
Two drop-in sessions are being held at Brampton Memorial Hall on Sunday and Monday between 11:00 and 17:00 GMT.
United Utilities said the work was necessary because the coniferous trees planted around the reservoir 70 years ago are at increasing risk of being blown over due to their exposed location and thin soil, exposing visitors to danger.
Native species including oak, rowan and birch, which are better suited to landscape conditions and more resilient to the wind, would replace them.
At Blea Water, a concrete and stone weir no longer used as part of the water supply network needs to be demolished.
It would remove barriers to fish and eel movement, improve river habitat quality, and restore natural flow and sediment transportation.
Helicopter landing pad
The remote location and lack of access to vehicles are among the issues the utility company will face.
It is investigating using a concrete access road to the reservoir so vehicles could avoid going through Shap and Brampton.
During the forestry works the car park at Mardale Head will need to be closed, and there will be a restricted number of spaces available for the duration of the Blea Water scheme.
There are plans to construct a basic route for an excavator to access Blea Water, and to remove demolished material by helicopter to a landing pad and compound near Mardale Head Car Park, with suitable sites being sought.
There is likely to be some closures or diversions to public rights of way, but it would be working with Lake District National Park and other interest groups to minimise these.
United Utilities said in a statement: "We understand that the Haweswater Valley and Blea Water are a valued space and an important landscape for visitors and the surrounding communities.
"We're working with a range of partners, stakeholders and engaging with specialist ecological contractors to carry out surveys and assessments, and this will help to inform the design and development of the planning application."
