Abingdon's Canal !
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14 Sep 2006 Thames Water press release Safeguarding water for future generations A major new reservoir near Abingdon in Oxfordshire is being proposed to help cope with the projected increase in demand for water from London, Swindon and Oxfordshire in the future. The reservoir, which is expected to cost around £1billion, covering an area of approximately 10 square kilometres (four square miles) and holding up to 150 million cubic metres of water, is one part of a package of measures proposed by Thames Water to help secure water supplies for its customers. Thames Water is also proposing water meters should be fitted to homes on change of occupancy. These and other plans will be unveiled today (Thursday) at the first of a four-week series of public exhibitions around the Vale of White Horse in Oxfordshire, beginning in Abingdon. The plans are the culmination of three years of studies, building on previous work by Thames Water, which have assessed the projected increase in demand for water and the most environmentally and economically sustainable methods of securing the supplies needed. The proposed site to the south-west of Abingdon has been identified as the most suitable for a reservoir, after an assessment of 54 other potential sites in the River Thames catchment area. Thames Water’s Environment Director, Richard Aylard, said: “Climate change, increasing population and changes in lifestyles are putting the region’s water resources under pressure. The population of London is expected to increase by over 800,000 within the next decade but our summers are likely to get hotter and drier. Our current predictions show that by the year 2030 we will need an extra 280 million litres a day in London and 60 million litres a day in Swindon and Oxfordshire. “Our customers have already shown through their efforts to save water during the current drought, that considerable savings can be made if we use water more wisely. At the same time, we as a company, can and will do more to reduce the leakage from our pipes, by spending £0.5million a day on finding and fixing leaks and replacing our leakiest Victorian mains in London. “But these measures alone will not match demand, particularly in the driest months, and that is why we need a large reservoir as part of our plans to provide for our long-term needs. “Having decided on our preferred options, we now want to explain our analysis to the public. We will be asking for ideas on how the reservoir might look, and what recreational facilities might be available, such as sailing, fishing or how nature might be encouraged. Then as part of our Stage Two exhibitions early next year, we will be able to outline the initial designs for the reservoir.” As well as Abingdon, the exhibition will visit three other communities near the proposed reservoir site between now and November: Steventon, East Hanney and Wantage. If the reservoir is given approval Thames Water expects it to be completed and supplying water to London, Swindon and Oxfordshire by 2019/20. Notes to Editors 1.The public exhibition will visit Abingdon Guildhall; Steventon Village Hall, Steventon; the Hanney War Memorial Hall, East Hanney and Wantage Civic Hall, Wantage. The complete schedule of exhibition dates can be found at: http://www.thameswater.co.uk/en_gb/Downloads/PDFs/UTMRD_Stage_1_Leaflet.pdf 2.The Upper Thames Major Resource Development (UTMRD) process will be delivered in five stages: Stage 1 – Evaluation of Needs and Alternatives, 14 Sept – 9 Nov 2006 Stage 2 – Preferred scheme (reservoir) and design options, early 2007 Stage 3 – Environmental Impact Assessment and Consents Submission, mid 2007-mid 2008 Stage 4 – decision process (Public Inquiry), 2008 – 2010 Stage 5 – implementation (including construction process), 2011 – 2019 3. All the information to be shown at the exhibition can be downloaded from a dedicated media page. This includes graphs on predicted water consumption and a map of the proposed reservoir site. 4. With a capacity of 150 million cubic metres – equivalent to just under half the capacity of Lake Windermere in the Lake District – and an area of 10 square kilometres - approximately three times the size of Queen Mary Reservoir near Heathrow Airport - the reservoir would be the largest of its kind (fully embanked reservoir) in the UK. 5. Predictions suggest that by the year 2030 London will need an extra 280 million litres of water a day. This is enough water to supply the whole of Northern Ireland. An additional 60 million litres a day will be needed to supply Swindon and Oxfordshire, which is enough to supply the city of Coventry. 6. The reservoir site was assessed against a detailed list of criteria, including geology, proximity to rivers and size. The chosen site had to be within the River Thames catchment area, with a minimum size of 200 hectares. A site near major built-up areas or based on permeable rock would be unsuitable, as would those on Sites of Special Scientific Interest or protected areas. The 55 potential reservoir sites that were considered are listed in the full Stage 1 Needs and Alternatives Report which is available from a dedicated media page in the 'Downloads' section.
7. For further information or to arrange interviews, please
contact Nicola Savage, Media Relations Manager, Thames Water; Tel: 0118 373
8921; |