Upper Thames Reservoir: Wildlife habitats under threat

Name of project Upper Thames Reservoir Describe the site currently, including details of protected or threatened habitat or species The four square mile development site is currently occupied by prime agricultural land, 70 per cent of which is very high quality productive farmland which is protected by national planning policy. Some studies have shown that Thames Water's proposals for the reservoir could create great environmental damage and habitat destruction on and around the reservoir site. A report by Dr Clive Spinage, who has studied in close detail the area of the proposed reservoir, highlights the scale of destruction of wildlife habitats over this huge area. Protected species displaced would include water voles, bats and hedgehogs and, in addition, 94 per cent of bird species presently found there would go, leading to a further decline in some of the rare birds which nest there, including Lapwing and Golden Plover. What development is proposed? Thames Water is proposing to build a £1 billion mega reservoir near Abingdon, Oxfordshire with the £1bn construction cost set to be passed on to consumers across London and the southeast in higher water bills. Group Against Reservoir Development (GARD) is fighting the proposals at a make-or-break Public Inquiry into Thames Water's future development plans, set out in its 25 year Water Resources Management Plan. The inquiry started on 15 June and is expected to last for five weeks, after which time the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman MP, will determine whether the plans get the go-ahead or whether Thames Water will be forced to reconsider its plans in the light of evidence from GARD, CPRE and the Environment Agency. The campaign groups argue that: 1. There is no need for a reservoir that would cost consumers a billion pounds in higher water bills. The reservoir could provide 60 million gallons of water each day - Thames Water's own forecasts show that the daily projected shortage in 2035 will be just 13 million gallons. The cost will be borne by consumers. 2. There are cheaper and more sustainable alternatives. Thames Water has rejected more cost effective schemes such as the Severn-Thames transfer scheme that could provide just as much water at half the cost. 3. The building of the reservoir could come at a huge environmental cost. It could destroy 5,000 acres of productive farmland, increase flood risk and increase carbon emissions. It could involve a ten year construction programme, devastating some four square miles of rural Oxfordshire. What one thing would help you or your group protect this site? Readers could do one (or more!) of the following by going to www.abingdonreservoir.org.uk 1 Join our e-newsletter – Please fill in this form and join our campaign to stop Thames Water's plans. Sign-up for our e-newsletter to keep up to date with our progress. 2 Sign our petition – Please sign our petition to stop Thames Water's plans! We will also keep you informed with our campaign progress. 3 Follow us on Twitter – Keep up to date with our progress by following the GARD Campaign on Twitter. 4 Find us on Facebook – Show your support by joining our Facebook group and keep up to date with our campaign. Exact location OX13 6AP Developer Thames Water, Swindon Planning authority, and reference number of planning application The project will not reach the planning stage unless the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs approves Thames Water's Water Asset Management Plan. • If you are the developer and would like to respond to this campaign, please email [email protected]