Being a good neighbour
We've certainly been busy!
The scale of the engineering involved with the West Cumbria water supplies project hasn't been seen since Manchester Corporation built the Thirlmere and Haweswater supply schemes in the 1890s and 1930s.
It's impossible to carry out a project on this scale without causing disruption - but we want to thank you for your patience and support. We've aimed to make sure that we carried out this project sensitively - respecting the surrounding communities and environment.
United Utilities Legacy Fund
Working with Cumbria Community Foundation, we developed a legacy fund aimed at providing help for local people and groups impacted, or based within the area of our project. Our aim was to help provide a lasting legacy and assist groups to realise projects that will provide social or economic benefits within the community.
Lots of community and environmental groups have benefitted with successful applications from the fund. From groups that offer support and advice within the community, through to sporting and youth groups. The fund has also supported the creation of a memorial plaque unveiled by school children to remember former members of Broughton Village School who lost their lives in conflict during World War One.
Traffic
This is a large construction project, which required lots of heavy goods vehicles, machinery and people!
Wherever possible we installed the sections of new pipe which were located in the road during the winter months, when they are usually quieter – so there was as little impact on road users as possible.
Keeping the Lakes beautiful
This is a beautiful part of the world, so it was important that anything we've built above ground remained in-keeping with the local area. Using local materials for the building structures wherever possible was key.
United Utilities Tree Fund
We designed the route to minimise tree loss and our plans incorporated supporting local tree planting initiatives to create new woodlands in the area. The Cumbria Tree Fund was managed by Cumbria Woodlands and helped plant 53,000 new trees and 5,300 metres of new hedgerows.
Helping to create new woodlands
We’ve also been working with Wild Ennerdale to create 20 hectares of new woodland at the head of the Ennerdale Valley.
Landscape and visual impacts
We're committed to ensuring we return the land back to the relevant land owners at the earliest opportunity and our team are working to remove our temporary site access points and replacing hedgerows, walls, fencing and gates.
Businesses, training and making a positive impact on the local economy
We worked with partner organisations to look at how we could help with training and skills in the area and especially those young people who are not in education, employment or training. Tapping into the local supply chain, to ensure our investment generated jobs and opportunities for work experience right here in Cumbria has been really important, so that we never lost sight of the fact that our work is as much about people - as it is about pipes.
Thank you for your ongoing patience while we've been working. We do understand that the scale of this project has involved a lot more construction traffic, noise and disruption for the community. If you have any queries you can always call us on 0345 672 3723.
If you have any general comments please get in touch by completing our feedback form.