June 2022. Councillors Kenyon and Osborne, and a resident, walked the Tatham section of the proposed route to be used by most traffic for the proposed works (due to start in 2023) arising from the Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme – the construction of a new Bowland Tunnel between Botton to Newton.
The current version of United Utilities’ traffic management plan has inbound traffic entering the parish from Low Bentham at Robert Hall, then using Long Lane, Fairheath Road and Furnessford Road to reach Botton. The plan includes detailed proposals for selective road widening, and the removal of hedges and trees, in order to ease bends and provide better visibility for drivers. Where possible, roads, walls and hedges will be restored to their original state. The purpose of the site visit was to gauge the impact of the proposals and to form opinions as to the need for them.
Councillors felt that four of the mature trees marked in the plan for felling were in fact so far from the road that their removal would amount to wanton destruction of significant landscape features which also provide shade and valuable habitat.
United Utilities are now in the process of revising their planning application to meet concerns raised by planning officers. The parish council will continue to monitor the plans as they evolve.