Abingdon reservoir consultation – have your say

Thames Water has announced its first public consultation on plans for a major new reservoir in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

This consultation will be open until 28 August 2024.

The NFU will be formally responding to this consultation on behalf of affected members.

Contact details are as follows:

• Email: [email protected]
• Freephone: 0800 980 8800

To join events hosted by Thames Water, visit: thames-wrmp.co.uk/events.

NFU position

The NFU acknowledges that the expansion of strategic water supply infrastructure is a vital component of improving long-term, multi-sector water management as a critical response to climate change.

However, the NFU believes that all new public water supply infrastructure must be designed and built to deliver multi-sector benefit (including agriculture) such that agricultural water needs are recognised as an explicit part of resource use plans. The NFU also believes that both the design and implementation during construction must be carried out in a way that minimises impact on land ownership and farming operations.

The development process must protect the needs of landowners and ensure that they are actively involved in the decision-making process at all stages; and that decision making process is timely and transparent.

We will be working closely with Thames Water to ensure any development reflects the needs of landowners and farming businesses at the proposed site and the wider area.

We will continue to highlight the issues and impacts that such large infrastructure projects can have on farmland and ensure our members are a priority throughout the process.