Portsmouth Water has published a summary of the views it heard during its recent public consultation on plans for the new Havant Thicket Reservoir in Hampshire.
The reservoir would secure future water supplies for the South East, protect world-famous local chalk streams and provide a new green leisure hub, benefitting local people and wildlife.
Following a public consultation on its proposals during May and June, Portsmouth Water has now published a ‘You said, we did’ report, setting out a summary of the feedback it received and how the opinions have shaped its plans. It is due to submit planning applications for the reservoir in the coming weeks.
According to the report, responses to the consultation suggest strong support for the scheme, with a majority agreeing or strongly agreeing with the overall plan and each individual element of the scheme.
The report lists all of the themes identified, across all stakeholder and public feedback received.
The most frequent concerns with the scheme related to:
- the loss of ancient woodland;
- the impacts of either access road option on local roads and residents;
- the disruption caused by construction.
Portsmouth Water said that in response it had developed a new approach to access combining both options, diluting the construction and visitor traffic that will use either route; and reducing the loss of ancient woodland, by halving the width of the northern access road.
Bob Taylor, Portsmouth Water’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Our report shows the consultation on Havant Thicket Reservoir was a great success, with hundreds of people having their say online, through social media, by post and phone, and showing strong support for this important project.”
“We have looked in detail at what people told us and have made a number of changes to our plans as a result.”
Portsmouth Water’s response also includes widening the paths for pedestrians, cyclists and horse-riders around the reservoir site and making sure the new visitor centre is designed to help it blend in with the surrounding area.
Bob Taylor continued:
“During the consultation, we heard concerns about the loss of ancient woodland due to the reservoir being constructed. In our report, we have clearly set out the extensive efforts we are planning, that will deliver an overall benefit for the environment. This includes looking at 70 sites before selecting the one that offers the most sustainable source of water and on-site material to create a reservoir, in order to meet the growing need in the water-stressed South East and protect precious chalk streams.”
“We have worked closely with environmental partners to take advantage of this oneoff opportunity, to create a large new wetland for wildlife, to replant and improve at least 110 hectares of woodland and grassland, nearby to the reservoir and further afield, and establish a grant scheme to get other environmental projects in the area off the ground.”
The planning applications for the reservoir are due to be submitted to Havant Borough Council and East Hampshire District Council in the coming weeks. Many of the issues raised will be covered in detail in the applications, which are expected to be registered by the Councils in October.
Click here to read the report in full
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