A SERIES of exhibitions are to be held ahead of work starting on a £300 million water pipeline project in the Lake District.

The project will see the construction of around 100 kilometres of pipeline, plus associated infrastructure including a new water treatment works, two service reservoirs and a pumping station, to take water from Thirlmere reservoir to supply around 150,000 people in west Cumbria.

The scheme received planning permission in November 2016, and this new series of exhibitions will provide more details on the schedule of work.

There will also be an opportunity for attendees to find out about some proposed changes to the route - including moving a planned section of pipeline in Brigham from the roads into the fields, and new proposed section of tunnel in Castlerigg, Keswick. These changes will be subject to a further planning application.

Work is expected to start on the project this Spring. This will include preparatory work for a new water treatment works off the A595 at Williamsgate and laying the first length of pipeline from Williamsgate to Quarry Hill water treatment works. Further work in the summer will include laying pipeline from Williamsgate to the River Derwent and a section of pipeline running from Bassenthwaite down to the A66 at Keswick.

A new, interactive visitors' centre, all about the project and Cumbria's role in keeping the taps flowing across the region, will also be open to the public from March 9. It will be located on Lake Road, Keswick, and will feature display boards, interactive games and video displays to bring the project to life. The centre will also contain information on the work of West Cumbria Rivers Trust - who will share the space.

John Hilton, Project Director for United Utilities said: "We hope many local people will come along to learn more about the schedule of work for this historic project, which will create a secure, long-term water supply for west Cumbria.

"Much of the pipeline's route will be in agricultural land, away from roads, to minimise inconvenience for motorists, residents and businesses. Nevertheless, this is a major engineering scheme, and we are sure many people will be interested to find out more about where, when and how we will be delivering the work."

Exhibition details are as follows:
March 6 
Village Hall 
Bridgefoot 
Workington 
Cumbria 
CA14 1YF 
1-6pm 

March 8 
Great Clifton Village Hall, 
William Street, 
Great Clifton, 
Workington 
CA14 1UG 

March 9 
Kirkgate Arts Ltd. 
The Kirkgate Centre, 
Kirkgate, 
Cockermouth CA13 9PJ 
1-7pm 

March 14 
Blindcrake Village Hall, 
Blindcrake, 
Cockermouth 
CA13 0QH 
1-6pm 

March 15 
Bothel Village Hall, 
Cross Lonning 
Wigton 
CA7 2HS 
1-7pm 

March 16 
Allhallows Community Centre 
Fletchertown 
Wigton 
CA7 1BS 
1-7pm 

March 21 
Thirlmere Recreation Hall 
Stanah Lane 
Thirlmere 
Keswick 
CA12 4TW 
1-7pm 

March 22 
The Lakes Distillery, 
Setmurthy, Near 
Bassenthwaite Lake, 
CA13 9SJ 
1-7pm 

March 23 
The Skiddaw Hotel, 
31 Main St, 
Keswick 
CA12 5BN 
1-7pm