Harbour faces fresh setback over orange water
BBCEfforts to deal with ongoing issues turning a harbour's water orange have hit a setback.
The discoloured water at Whitehaven Harbour in Cumbria has been a problem since late 2022. Tests showed the issue was linked to water coming through Bransty Tunnel and into a culvert releasing it at Queens Dock.
A taskforce set up by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister had come up with a solution, but new modelling showed this may not be effective, meaning the team was "back to the drawing board", MacAlister said.
However, the Labour MP has confirmed he had secured £50m to upgrade the tunnel once a new plan is in place.
The taskforce had initially believed it could create a diversionary pipe to redirect water from the culvert out to sea so the tide would wash it away.
However, modelling showed there was a risk the orange water would wash back into the harbour.
"We need to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way of making it work," MacAlister said.
"The last thing we want to do is put all of this investment into a solution which actually doesn't solve the root cause of the problem."
Network RailThe Bransty Tunnel, which is used to connect Corkickle and Whitehaven via train, has been shut since last summer while Network Rail carries out work to replace the tracks.
Structural issues with the tunnel are linked to historic mining activity and are separate to the root cause of the orange water, but came to light during assessment work to resolve it.
Buses are currently replacing trains on the section of the line, which is a major route used by staff of the county's biggest employers - Sellafield and BAE.
MacAlister's office confirmed the taskforce was due to meet again in June.
They said while they estimated works to reopen the tunnel would take between six to nine months, a fresh solution has to be confirmed before a firm timescale can be drawn up.
MacAlister said: "It's been hugely frustrating, not just for me but also for a lot of the organisations involved because it is so complicated."
Network Rail said it was committed to get trains travelling through the tunnel again.
A spokesperson said "a fully funded plan" to repair the tracks and the tunnel was ready to be carried out, work to find a long-term solution to the orange water was ongoing.
"These are very complex issues, but we are determined to create reliable solutions for the long-term benefit of Whitehaven and wider communities along the Cumbrian Coast Line."
