The declaration of drought in several parts of the UK has led to the reservoir proposal featuring in the national news. The references to the proposed reservoir are usually accompanied by suggestions that NIMBYism has stopped it happening, including supposed NIMBYism from MPs like myself. I’ve had national journalists getting in touch to ask if I’d like to comment on whether I regret my stance on the proposed reservoir.
I’ll let you into a little secret: I turn down most national media requests and I did so with these. The media that matters most to me is local media as I know it’s what my constituents will see and hear. But it is important to be clear on why the drought declaration does not mean the reservoir should now just be given the go-ahead, despite the concerns about it.
Firstly, the opposition to the reservoir proposal is not opposition for opposition’s sake. Just as very few people say to me they are opposed to any new houses being built come what may, few people say they are opposed to a reservoir whatever the circumstances. Instead, as with housing, they want to know the proposal makes sense: that it is based on the right assumptions and will be a net positive for the area and not a net negative.
It is in the detail that people rightly take issue with the proposal. Firstly, the Group Against Reservoir Development make a strong case that the water need assumptions that Thames Water are using are inaccurate and these have to be right if we are going to go ahead with such a significant project.
Furthermore, the cost of the proposal is unclear. The environmental impact of the proposal is unclear. The case that the reservoir is a better option than the alternatives has not been made. There have been mixed messages about whether it will be able to used for recreational activities or not. Given this proposal has existed in some form for 30 years, we should expect to have clear answers to these questions.
And given the proposed reservoir would in any case serve London rather than the local area – and given 24% of the water Thames Water currently supplies leaks – it should not be a surprise that I will continue to push Thames Water on these points and not simply say that the hosepipe ban means it should now go ahead!
P.S. On water issues, there’s nonsense being spread again on social media about MPs voting to allow sewage to be dumped into our waters. I’ll write on this in detail in a future column but will just say here that it isn’t true and no MP from any party would.
