Reservoir opponents upset by inspectors' verdict (From Herald Series)

Reservoir opponents upset by inspectors' verdict

8:49am Thursday 30th August 2007 in

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OPPONENTS of a planned reservoir near Abingdon claim the inspectors' report into the South east Plan rides roughshod over any future public inquiry into the proposals.

Inspectors have recommended that plans for the Upper Thames Reservoir and its location be included in the plan policy.

Thames Water has said it needs to build the new reservoir to ensure adequate water supplies for Oxfordshire, the Thames Valley and London, due to the large numbers of new homes planed for the region in the next two decades.

Andy Boddington, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "The Inspectors seem to have leapt to the conclusion that a reservoir must be built in Oxfordshire.

"It should be for the Environment Agency to decide on the best solutions for our water needs, and they are in the process of assessing all the evidence.

"It is pointless for the South East Plan to include a specific commitment to the Abingdon reservoir until that work is complete."

Deputy leader of Vale of White Horse District Council Tony De Vere chairs the reservoir advisory group. He said: "Some reassurance does need to be given that if it's in the plan it does not mean it is a done deal."

Mr De Vere said he understood why inspectors would want to include the proposals in the long-term strategy.

But he added: "There are a lot of steps that have to be gone through first and we have to keep an open mind."