The boss of an award-winning East Lancashire gastropub fears that a £1.75billion water pipeline project could devastate her business.

Kathy Smith, co-owner and licensee of the Parker’s Arms in Newton-in-Bowland, is very concerned about the impact of the Haweswater Aqueduct Renewal Project (HARP) on its trade.

She fears the business may struggle to survive.

The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Project (HARP) will replace deteriorating 70-plus-year-old water mains to keep water flowing through the 110-kilometre pipeline from the Lake District to Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

It requires major works in the Ribble Valley borough through the Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty including in Newton.

Ms Smith took over the pub on Hall Gate Hill in 2007 with business partner and chef Stosie Madi since when it has won a string of awards including being crowned as Britain’s no.1 gastropub​ at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2023.

She said: "The impact of dozens of heavy lorries an hour coming through from Clitheroe past the front door of my pub is going to affect my business heavily.

"I am very concerned about this.

"What happens if people cannot get up to my business?

"The road outside is just a hill road over the moors with lots of potholes.

"We have worked very hard to build up our trade and be named the number one gastropub in the UK.

"The work could take seven to 10 years.

"It's going to be very difficult and we could really struggle without help.

"I have spoken to no-one from United Utilities or Ribble Valley Council.

"We need to know about compensation for lost trade, mitigation measures and what can be done in terms of highways to make sure customers can get here back safely."

A Ribble Valley Council spokeswoman said: "The Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme is a large-scale scheme which will have an impact on residents, land, and businesses, and the council will implement measures as far as possible to mitigate this impact.

"A significant level of consultation with the council and residents has been undertaken by United Utilities.

"Approval of the HARP application is subject to the agreement of the raft of 58 conditions and legal agreements imposed relating to all aspects of construction and mitigation of the impact of this project on residents and businesses."

A spokeswoman for United Utilities said: “HARP is a critical major infrastructure project which will ensure a sustainable supply of water to our customers across Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester for years to come.

“We have consulted extensively over the last three years, and we do understand the concerns some people have.

“We know that the potential impacts of a construction scheme of this scale are not to be taken lightly, and are absolutely committed to working to minimise any impacts."