POLITICAL pressure is growing on a cabinet minister to take control of planning decisions on the East Lancashire stage of a £1 billion project to upgrade the pipeline supplying water from the Lake District to the county and Greater Manchester.

The Haweswater Aqueduct Renewal Project (HARP) runs through large swathes of Ribble Valley - including the Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty - Hyndburn and Rossendale.

The scheme by United Utilities is currently going through the planning process in the three boroughs.

Earlier this year Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans asked Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove to 'call in' the decisions for his departmental planning experts to consider.

They issued a special notice on March 16 pausing the process.

Now Mr Evans and his Conservative councillor colleagues Ged Mirfin and Kevin Horkin have now appealed for Mr Gove to move faster to take control.

This could require an examination of the project in a series of public hearings overheard by a senior planning inspector.

United Utilities maintains that the scheme is essential to keeping water flowing through the 110 kilometre 70-year-old pipeline.

Mr Evans said: "I hope that the secretary of state makes this decision as quickly as possible.

"It’s important for the department to look at all issues involved in this application - but the impact on the environment is palpably clear for all to see.

"The area of outstanding natural beauty needs protection."

Kevin Horkin, the Ribble Valley Borough Councillor for West Bradford and Grindleton, said: “This is creating unnecessary uncertainty. This is delaying key investment decisions especially for hospitality businesses."

Cllr Mirfin, who represents Ribble Valley North East on Lancashire County Council, said: “The fact that this process is taking so long should be a clear indication there are elements of this project which clearly require looking at in more detail.

"The decision on the call-in should be taken without further delay.”

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: “We are awaiting a decision on whether the HARP planning applications will be called-in. We have not been given a date for that decision.

“We are keen to gain a resolution as soon as possible so we can progress this vital infrastructure scheme which will ensure a sustainable supply of water to our customers for generations to come.

“Our team remains committed to this project.”

Government sources confirmed that Mr Gove's department had received requests to call in the planning applications adding that a decision would be made as soon as possible.