CONTENTIOUS plans to build a new sewerage system at an environmentally sensitive seaside village have been given the go-ahead by planners.

The United Utilities' scheme to create a transfer pumping station in the grounds of Ashmeadow House, Arnside, has met strong opposition from many residents and traders who feared the work, which includes laying a pipeline along the promenade, would deter shoppers and jeopardise local businesses.

But despite a 500-strong petition calling for UU to rethink its route, Cumbria County Council planners approved the scheme this week. Coun Peter Phizacklea said: "Nobody wants waste treatment works anywhere near them but they have got to go somewhere."

The £10 million project, designed to keep the system up to speed with new European legislation that comes into force in March 2005, will see: l A new pipeline from Beechwood Lane to Ashmeadow House.

l An underground pumping station at Ashmeadow.

l A new pipeline from Ashmeadow to Sandside pumping station.

l A rebuild of Milnthorpe wastewater treatment works.

Ashmeadow House was bought by the Arnside Abbeyfield Society last year and it plans to convert the Grade II listed building into ten warden-managed flats for elderly people.

Chairman of the society Peter Larsson told councillors he opposed the plans because he felt the other six alternative schemes had not been looked at properly. The retired university lecturer said the project had not been clearly defined and he was concerned about the impact it would have on the historic house and the environ-mentally sensitive area surrounding it.

Describing the plans which will see road closures, diversions and traffic lights put in place along the promenade - as a "grotesque scheme" which would threaten the village's "social fabric", he said: "We are very disappointed. There will be a great deal of reflection and the village will want to sit and think about the implications this will have on tourist industry and businesses in Arnside."

UU has said that depending on negotiations with the society, work would start on the pumping station around June and pipe- laying on the promenade would begin in November with a two-week break over Christmas and continue until March 2005.

In a report to the council, UU conceded: "It would be in the company's best interest to avoid such a sensitive site if possible. Selection of Ashmeadow has come about because it represents the only practicable option."

It also stated that it had a "legal obligation" to compen-sate local businesses that demonstrated loss of profits during construction work.

John Ayling of UU said: "We accept there will be some disruption caused while this scheme is implemented. But we have taken a view that it is in the best long-term interest of the area."