An alternative site for the proposed reservoir?

27th May 2011

Following the public inquiry last year, the Secretary of State has called for further technical work, including the option of a smaller reservoir, half the size of the original Abingdon proposal. DEFRA and the Environment Agency are now advising Thames Water on the work required to satisfactorily complete the 2009 Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), the 2012 Annual Review and the 2013 WRMP.

In their further letter to Thames Water, issued this month, DEFRA has suggested that TW should ascertain whether there may be feasible alternative locations to a 50M m3 reservoir at Abingdon.

Thames Water now needs to comply with DEFRA's long list of revisions. In the meantime CPRE shall continue to work closely with GARD to ensure Thames's revised plans result in minimum malign impact on the Oxfordshire countryside.

See: More information about TW's WRMP and timetable for revisions (external website)

Environment Agency propose a smaller reservoir at Abingdon

9th May 2011

On 14th April, the Environment Agency wrote to DEFRA with its technical advice on the work required by Thames Water to deliver its final water resources management plan (WRMP).

A smaller reservoir at Abingdon is still proposed as an option, as CPRE feared, but there is encouraging instruction to Thames Water to look at large scale Reuse and Unsupported Severn Transfers and even more importantly to radically change their methodology for the next WRMP.

See: Environment Agency advice to DEFRA (PDF)

See: Annex (PDF)

See: Letter to Thames Water covering EA advice (PDF)

CPRE Oxfordshire delighted at Government’s decision to reject Abingdon Reservoir

7th March 2011

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) finally announced the decision on the Thames Water Draft Water Resources Management Plan on Friday 4th March, following the two month public inquiry in Oxford in 2010. The Secretary of State has decided that as part of Thames Water’s future plans the controversial £1bn reservoir near Abingdon should not go ahead. The report calls for further detailed work on the other technical options for increasing water supplies in the South East, including the option of a smaller reservoir.

Bruce Tremayne, Vice Chairman of CPRE Oxfordshire, and one of the key campaigners, comments:

“We are delighted with this decision and trust that this is, in effect, the end of the road for the enormous reservoir proposed for Abingdon. CPRE has always argued that the case for the reservoir, which would have covered 5,000 acres of productive farmland, has not been made and that it is not needed. We showed at the inquiry that it would destroy homes, farms and a landscape created over many hundreds of years - and a heritage and setting that is of great value to us all.”

Bruce Tremayne continued:

“We are very pleased that the Planning Inspector listened to the concerns of local residents and accepted many of our arguments, and that the Secretary of State has agreed that alternatives to the reservoir need to be examined further. This is the result of tremendous work by local campaigners - notably by GARD, who mounted a long and vigorous campaign against the reservoir.”

He concluded:

“We firmly believe there are other, much better ways to increase water supplies for the South East of England that do not destroy our landscape and heritage. And we have argued strongly that there may not even be a need for increased water supplies if Thames Water can fix the leaks in the mains and everyone has been helped to use less water, by more metering and water saving devices.

We look forward to seeing Thames Water’s revised plan and to working with them to find sustainable solutions to managing water in the South East, which does not involve blighting our treasured countryside for future generations.”

See: CPRE Oxfordshire’s Press Release (7th March) (PDF)

See: GARD’s Press Release (4th March) (PDF)

See: Inspector’s Report and Defra’s decision letter (external website)

See: Vale of White Horse District Press Release (4 March) (external website)

Public Inquiry into Thames Water's proposed reservoir concludes

19th August 2010

The closing submissions to the two-month public inquiry into Thames Water's plans for the South East for the next 25 years, including a proposed reservoir near Abingdon, concluded on 19 August.

CPRE Oxfordshire, which was represented at the Public Inquiry, and which made a closing submission, hopes that the Environment Secretary will rule out the reservoir.

GARD Chairman, Nick Thompson told the Oxford Times: "The inquiry has been thorough and fair and the opposition to the reservoir has been extremely strong."

The Planning Inspector's decision is expected later this year.

See: CPRE's closing submission (PDF)

Presentation of evidence on Abingdon reservoir concludes at Public Inquiry

16th July 2010

All parties including CPRE have now given their evidence and the month-long inquiry into Thames Water's draft Water Resources Management Plan has been adjourned until 16/17/18 August when Closing Submissions will be made.

CPRE, GARD - the Group Against Reservoir Development, Oxfordshire County Council and the Vale of White Horse District (who are offering a combined case), and the Environment Agency have all argued that the draft TW Management Plan is flawed in a large number of respects and have raised many key questions about TW’s case for the Reservoir and the huge environmental damage which it will cause to this part of Oxfordshire. Other options for water supply have been identified which could be much more flexible to future circumstances and much less costly in environmental and financial terms.

The CPRE team of four presented their evidence on Wed 14 August, taking nearly four hours, including vigorous cross examination from Thames Water’s counsel.

The CPRE team comprised: Christine Drury of CPRE Kent who was coordinating the case and three witnesses, Graham Warren of CPRE Kent on Water issues, Bruce Tremayne on Landscape/ Environment and George Lambrick on Archaeology/ Heritage, both of CPRE Oxon. George Lambrick also presented important technical points on the adequacy of TW’s environmental assessments.

GARD brought a very strong team with professional representation to the inquiry and put forward a compelling case against the reservoir and the TW Management Plan.

CPRE to present its evidence at Public Inquiry into proposed Abingdon Reservoir on 13th July

24th June 2010

CPRE Oxfordshire and CPRE Kent will be presenting its joint evidence to the PI into Thames Water's draft Water Resources Management Plan, on 13th July, while GARD will present its Statement of Case on 7th July.

CPRE and GARD presented their opening statements on the first day of the Inquiry.

The Inquiry is to conclude on 16th July.

The Planning Inspector's decision is expected later this year.

See: CPRE Opening Statement (PDF)

See: CPRE South East Statement of Case (PDF)

See: GARD Opening Statement (PDF)

See: GARD Statement of Case (PDF)

Public Inquiry into proposed Abingdon Reservoir to begin in Oxford on Tuesday, 15th June

11th June 2010

The Public Inquiry into Thames Water's draft Water Resources Management Plan, which includes a proposal to build a huge reservoir on 5,000 acres of farmland near Abingdon, will begin in Oxford, on Tuesday 15th June.

CPRE Oxfordshire, which has for many years been opposing the proposed reservoir, on the grounds that it would result in major environment damage, will be appearing at the Inquiry, along with GARD - the Group against the Reservoir Development.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman, will make a decision on the plans after the Inquiry. If the Water Resources Management Plan is approved in its current form, then the need for the reservoir is effectively proven and Thames Water will continue to plan for it.

CPRE Oxfordshire hopes to persuade the Government Inspector chairing the Inquiry to conclude that Thames Water’s Abingdon reservoir is not needed.

See: GARD's website (external website)

CPRE Oxfordshire submits its Statement of Case to DEFRA in advance of the public inquiry into the Thames Water Resources Magement Plan, which is proposing a large reservoir near Abingdon

17th March 2010

CPRE South East has submitted a single joint submission from CPRE Oxfordshire and CPRE Kent, both Parties to the Public Inquiry to be held in the summer. CPRE Oxfordshire and CPRE Kent are both members of the regional entity CPRE South East Region group, and both wish the Inquiry to be able to take note of the strong case for a regional perspective in resolving the current problems with the Thames Water Draft Water Resources Management.

Bruce Tremayne of CPRE Oxfordshire be the Witness on Landscape and Environment matters, and Graham Warren CPRE Kent will be the Witness on Water matters.

CPRE’s objective is to persuade the Government Inspector chairing the Inquiry to conclude that Thames Water’s Abingdon reservoir is not needed.

The next steps in the public inquiry process are the publication of stakeholders' Statement of Case in early March and the pre-inquiry meeting on 14th April 2010.

The Public Inquiry will start at 10.00am on 15th June 2010 and will be held at the Conference Centre Oxford (CANTAY HOUSE, Park End St. Oxford OX1 1JD). It is currently estimated to last 10-12 working days. It will be chaired by the Government appointed Inspector, Ms Wendy Burden.

The Group Against Reservoir Development (GARD) - will also be submitting its Statement of Case to DEFRA.

The Vale of White Horse (VoWH) District Council has submitted evidence to this inquiry jointly with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC).

See: CPRE South East Statement of Case (PDF)

See: GARD Statement of Case (PDF)

See: Thames Water's Statement of Case (25 February) (PDF)

See: Thames Water's Statement of Common Ground with Environment Agency (2 February) (PDF)

See: VoWH and OCC Statement of Case (external website)

See: More information about TW's public inquiry and timetable (external website)

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