Green Councillors and campaigners are calling on the Government to hold a public inquiry into whether the Abingdon Reservoir (SESRO) should go ahead.
The Abingdon Reservoir will be discussed in the High Court this week (25th/26th June) in a case brought by SAFERWaterS and CPRE Oxfordshire against the decision by Secretary of State Steve Reed to nod through the SESRO project to the next stage without a public inquiry.
“This High Court hearing is so important. We have called repeatedly for a public inquiry into the SESRO reservoir so that local residents, and all of Thames Water’s customers who will ultimately pay for it through higher bills, can finally get some answers about the need, effectiveness, costs and safety of this huge reservoir.” said Cllr Sarah James who represents Hendreds Ward in the Vale of the White Horse. “Decision making has been taken out of local hands and Steve Reed has told Thames Water that they can submit plans for a reservoir 1.5 times the size of the one that they consulted on, even though the Environment Agency advised him that the plans were not fit for purpose without major changes. This is unacceptable and must be publicly tested.”
Cllr Sam Casey-Rerhaye represents Sandford and the Wittenhams at South Oxfordshire District Council. “I have serious concerns that a reservoir this big cannot be safe in this location. The emergency discharge would overwhelm the Thames in my ward were it ever to be needed, risking lives and damaging the river and infrastructure. A public inquiry is vital to examine the best way to manage water for people, not for Thames Water’s bottom line. It would demonstrate that Thames Water and the other water companies should no longer be able to act without public scrutiny.”
“The views of residents and democratically elected representatives at all levels have been systematically ignored with regard to SESRO and the whole thing risks becoming a hugely expensive and destructive white elephant that will blight our county.” says Cllr Ian Middleton, leader of the Green Group at Oxfordshire County Council. “The judicial review this week is an opportunity to question the Secretary of State’s decision to not to call a Public Inquiry, something which is desperately needed to bring full, fair and open scrutiny to this massively expensive and risky project.”
[Image shows Councillors Sarah James and Sam Casey-Rerhaye at the Thames near the proposed reservoir emergency discharge.]