Feedback on planned Fens reservoir highlights concerns over site choice and impact on wildlife

Nearly 350 individuals and organisations gave feedback in the first round of public consultation on plans to build a massive reservoir on the outskirts of Chatteris.

The plans being developed jointly by Anglian Water and Cambridge Water, are for a reservoir of approximately five square kilometres - that's about the size of Grafham Water and will hold up to 55 million cubic metres of H20 - with the potential to supply up to 87 million litres of water a day to around 250,000 homes a year.

Results of a 10 week initial consultation, which was held at the end of last year, have now been published with concerns over wildlife habitat, the loss of agricultural land and the impact on the local landscape all being raised.

There were 552 attendees to events and webinars organised by the water companies and 35,000 people visited the project's website. Total feedback submissions amounted to 349 and that included 36 from property owners and occupiers within the proposed site.

Among the respondents was Fenland District Council who commented: "Fenland District Council are very keen to work with Anglian Water and Cambridge Water and other stakeholders to ensure that adverse effects are limited and the optimum benefits from the reservoir are realised."

The water firms said: "It’s clear people are excited by the potential of creating a place for local communities and visitors to enjoy and explore, with people telling us they often visit one of our existing reservoirs, Grafham Water."

Participants also commented on the design of the reservoir and the water firms acknowledged it will be very important in reducing public concerns about the impacts on place and community.

"Visual impacts of the embankments were a key theme, and you also said we should think carefully about access to the reservoir from Chatteris, Doddington, Wimblington, Manea, and other areas," said a report on the findings.

Questions were asked about the site selection process and the potential impacts on existing wildlife and habitats particularly wading birds around the Ouse Washes Nature Reserve. The water companies said the choice was made while working alongside organisations such as the Environment Agency and Natural England.

Other concerns were the loss of agricultural land with the water firms pointing out: "Quality of agricultural land and potential impacts were considered in the site selection process. Given the size of the reservoir, all of the sites we considered had the potential to affect agricultural land.

"The site we’re proposing was the best performing of all the sites we have considered – one which balances all of the factors we considered, and that also provides significant opportunities to unlock wider benefits."

They also pointed out they had considered 81 sites around Cambridgeshire before choosing the site in Fenland.

The reservoir is not likely to be open until 2037-39 at the earliest and there were questions asked about the length of time it will take to be built.

The report on the findings said: "We do understand that there is a long timeline before the reservoir opens.

"However, the new reservoir is a complex project and it’s important that we develop plans carefully to take account of a whole range of factors.

It will take at least three years to develop a design, consult and gather feedback, and complete all of the environmental assessments required.

"The planning approval process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects – which the Fens reservoir is classed as – could also take up to three years.

"The longest part of our programme is the construction of the reservoir. We estimate this to be eight to ten years."

For the full report visit the Fens Reservoir website.