COUNTRYSIDE campaigners and a utility giant have clashed over game shooting bans as a new season opens.

Supporters of the Countryside Alliance say more than 6,500 have signed their petition opposing United Utilities (UU) curbs on the pursuit across its holdings, including several sites in East Lancashire.

And with the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ - the traditional start of the grouse shooting season - today the alliance has vowed to redouble their efforts to secure a rethink.

But UU bosses say their primary commitment is to ensure water quality via their extensive holdings. 

Alliance leaders claim the water firm’s stance will harm biodiversity in the countryside and is masking their own environmental record.

Bosses at the Warrington-based utility confirmed shooting licences for several locations will not be renewed when current leases end.

The move was welcomed by not-for-profit conservation group Wild Moors, which called on other landowners to follow suit.

Moors leased for grouse shooting include Brennand Fell, north of Dunsop Bridge, and Halsteads Fell, to the north east of Slaidburn, Longridge Fell, near Walker Fold, Boulsworth Moor, near Colne, and Worsthorne Moor, near Burnley.

Alliance chiefs say UU was identified as England’s worst polluting water company in 2022 by the Environment Agency. 

In a petition to UU chief exec Louise Beardmore, campaigners say: “Under pressure, United Utilities is attempting to sacrifice shooting to cover its own environmental shortcomings. Banning shooting on their land will wreak havoc on biodiversity, conservation efforts, and rural livelihoods.”

Countryside Alliance chief exec Tim Bonner said “placatory words from the same PR machine which originally promoted UU’s ban on game shoots to divert from its terrible environmental record will not save the job of a single keeper.

He has accused the company of “environmental and cultural vandalism (in) banning an activity which delivers so much in terms of environmental, social and economic benefit.”

The alliance claims the move will also harm the company’s relations with farmers and landowners, particularly in areas where it relies on access to land.

A United Utilities spokesman said: “The catchment land under (our) stewardship supplies water for seven million people across the North West and we are committed to managing, and investing in, all of our assets to improve water quality and resilience for the benefit of the communities we serve. 

“These objectives alone underpin the land management policies we apply to the 56,000 hectares of land that we, as a company, own.

“As part of our work to improve water quality and catchment resilience as we face into the emerging risks of climate change, we are looking at all activities on our land. This includes 12,000 hectares where we have indicated we will not be renewing shooting licences. 

 “We have received many representations about the potential impact of not renewing those licences. As a result, we are arranging an independent review of each shooting licence.

“The review will seek to understand fully the environmental, economic and social impact of our proposals, to ensure we maximise opportunities to safeguard and improve the region’s future water resources, while minimising the impact on livelihoods and communities.  

 “We take our responsibility seriously to engage fully with our community stakeholders. We are aware there are many voices and points of view and we will listen to everyone involved.”