County council gives cautious formal response to Steventon reservoir proposal
Oxfordshire County Council has given a cautious formal response to Thames Water plans to construct a huge new reservoir near Steventon.
Thames Water has said it needs the new reservoir to meet demands for the South East in years to come.
The county council is supporting the Vale of White Horse District Council’s consultation with local people.
A meeting of the county council’s Cabinet today formally endorsed a report that set out the authority’s thoughts.
These include:
- The council’s concern that the Environment Agency should have enough time to assess Thames Water’s analysis of the need to meet the increase in demand for water.
- The county council may have a view on the merits of alternative supply options and sites, if there is proven demand for more water, and a reservoir is the appropriate solution.
- A request for informed public debate. This should include acceptable levels of service, water leakage, conservation requirements and water efficiency.
- That sufficient analysis of far reaching sustainability implications should be taken into account – beyond the debate on the impact to the site itself and the surrounding area.
- An expectation from the county council that Thames Water should encourage high water efficiency standards. The county council has invested in reducing its own water consumption over the last 15 years and would expect Thames Water to be setting high standards.
- If the proposed reservoir does proceed the county council would want to closely examine impacts on the county including potential transport implications, a new road to replace the Steventon to Hanney road, mitigation of adverse effects beyond the immediate area.
Cllr Keith Mitchell, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We’re at the early stages with this. We’ll be working hand-in-hand with our colleagues at the Vale of White Horse District Council. We will both be standing up for the people in the areas that are affected and the county as a whole. That will apply at every stage of this process.