More than 2,000 Lincolnshire residents have taken a stand against a major new reservoir planned for North Kesteven. Water company Anglian Water has confirmed that it has selected a location southeast of Sleaford, near the village of Scredington, as the proposed site.
The company, headquartered in the east of England, says the reservoir is vital for ensuring Lincolnshire's water supply through droughts and climate change over the next 25 years. However, residents who could see their homes and livelihoods lost due to compulsory purchase orders said they were "devastated" by the news.
An online petition started by resident Laura Wesley is gathering momentum after being set up last week, gaining more than 2,000 signatures. "Not only is it affecting people's homes, but people are losing their farms, all that people have worked so hard for, passed down in generations, just being taken from under them," the petition reads.
Read more: Devastated Lincolnshire farmers would 'lose homes and livelihoods' if reservoir plans go ahead
"This is really affecting people's lives." The water giant has released a statement on the proposal.
Dr Geoff Darch, water resources strategy manager for Anglian Water said: "This project will build on decades of existing investment in resilient infrastructure – like a 400km strategic pipeline which will move water from the north to the south and east of the region, existing networks of reservoirs and water storage, as well as continuing to help customers to reduce demand and driving down leakage to world-leading low levels.
"But we know, that to keep taps running in the future, we'll need more water storage in our region, in the form of new reservoirs. Following a thorough and multi-stage site selection assessment process, assessing a wide range of criteria, we have now identified the best-performing location for a new reservoir.
"We think it’s right those who are potentially most affected find out first and have the opportunity to ask us any questions about what this might mean for them. We are now in contact with those who own property and live within the proposed area and who will be potentially affected by our proposals.
"We know there is wide interest in the new reservoir. The project will create a new strategic water resource to support water supply to Anglian customers.
"It will help secure water supplies for future generations, so we can address the challenges of a changing climate, environmental protection and population growth. Our proposals go beyond just building a new reservoir, we will create new habitats for wildlife and places for people and create great natural places to explore, and exciting new leisure facilities for people to enjoy.
"A formal consultation process will begin this October, when we will give communities and wider stakeholders the opportunity to have their say and to help shape the development of the design of the reservoir and inform the economic, social, environmental and health opportunities it could create for the local area."
Local councils will be consulted on the plans, with a final decision being made by the government due to the scale. Anglian Water says that it considered how local people, the environment, landscape and flood protection would be impacted in picking a site.
A consultation website will be launched soon, and information is available on Anglian Water's website about how to contact them on the proposals.
Read next:
- Public praise 'respectful' tribute at Lincoln Castle showing Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
- Prospect of losing Grantham market that bleeds £84k a year a 'horrid shame'
- Queen's funeral mourners get 6am train from East Midlands to London
- Skegness carvery defends stance on not offering kids meals to 'elderly' customers trying to buy them
- Historian claims Gainsborough English Civil War battlefield has been 'destroyed' by new housing
