This evening I attended a meeting at the Environment Agency's offices in Wallingford to hear their response to Thames Water's reservoir proposals in our area. The bottom line is that the EA have said very clearly that Thames Water has not yet fully demonstrated the need for such a large reservoir. Their recommendations include:
- improving water efficiency
- revising the demand and supply options
- increasing the use of metering
- improving leakage reduction.
This is all consistent with the Vale of White Horse District Council's response which I reported here last month. It is certainly reassuring to know that the Environment Agency has come up with the same views as many of us have felt all along.
Let us hope the Secretary of State will listen to these concerns and take note. The consultation period has now ended and we can look forward to reading all the responses and watching carefully how they will be dealt with over the next few months.
I live near this proposed site. (Grove) I think it should be built. If we wait for the Leaks to be fixed then it will be too late. Do you want more water shortages? There is some very short term thinking here by people who are being real NIMBY’s. How about the jobs this will create? How about having a nice lake to sail on and walk around? Also if the banks burst it will wash away the A34 that cant be bad no can it? Seriously though…. Imagine what this will do for local wildlife. You see, if this is built it is not going to be easy for future developers to build a Nuclear Power plant, Motorway, Coal Power plant or more houses. We can say “Oxfordshire has done its bit for the UK go somewhere else”. I think Local politicians have to be careful about chasing votes on this and take brave steps to do what’s right for the long term well being of the community. Have any of them considered asking Thames Water for donations to assist community projects? No. How about considering asking Thames Water to help Sponsor the opening of Grove Train station? This lake will be built. We might as well get something out of it otherwise all we will have to show is a pile of useless banners and complaint letters. The same could be said for the proposed Housing site as well.
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