Controversial water pipeline decisions affecting GM returned to East Lancs council

The £1.75 billion Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Project (HARP) will replace deteriorating 70-plus-year-old water mains to keep water flowing through the 110-kilometre pipeline.

It requires major works in the Ribble Valley, Hyndburn and Rossendale boroughs.

So far seven councils have approved the planning applications for the upgrade from United Utilities, including Hyndburn and Rossendale.

But two controversial sections of…