Business leaders urge PM to fast-track reservoir plan

A group of business leaders have called on the prime minister to fast-track planning approval for a proposed £6.6bn reservoir.

Under Thames Water's proposals, the White Horse Reservoir, near Abingdon in Oxfordshire, could supply 15 million people in the south east of England.

The scheme has been met with a mixed response from residents, with campaigners saying it would devastate local ecology and livelihoods.

But in a letter to Andy Burnham on Tuesday, a group - including the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce - called on the government to designate the proposals as a critical national priority.

This designation is usually reserved for low-carbon energy infrastructure and would mean the plans being approved subject to any legal requirements.

"This would create a level playing field with nationally significant energy projects, removing unnecessary barriers and accelerating delivery through the planning process," the group wrote.

The letter comes after the UK experienced its hottest summer on record, with much of the country in drought and under hosepipe bans.

"The case for action has never been stronger," the letter sent to Downing Street on Tuesday said.

"The government now has an opportunity to demonstrate leadership, protect economic growth and deliver lasting water security."

"We urge ministers to seize that opportunity."

In August, Thames Water said almost nine in 10 people surveyed supported the building of the proposed reservoir.

The water firm previously said the facility would secure supply for 15 million customers of Thames Water, Affinity Water and Southern Water in the south east. Customer would pay for the new reservoir through their bills.

But the Group Against Reservoir Development (GARD) has launched a petition against the plans that was "representative of people's views" rather than the selected sample he suggested Thames Water had surveyed.

GARD chairman Derek Stork said fixing leaks should be "the first priority" for the water firm, as a lot of water stored underground was leaking "at an appalling rate".

He added that group would not object to "building a reservoir like Farmoor [in Oxfordshire] to temporarily hold water back", but that the White Horse Reservoir proposals were much larger than that.