EMAIL SESRO@ipsos.com to ensure your concerns are logged.
GARD has submitted its response to Thames Water’s pre-Development Consent Order consultation, raising serious concerns about both the process and the proposed reservoir scheme.
GARD believes that the consultation documents fail to provide sufficient detail on the design, construction and operation of the reservoir, making it impossible for communities and stakeholders to give informed or meaningful feedback. So many aspects of the project, and the assessment of its impacts on the area – in terms of traffic disruption, effects on human health, biodiversity and more – are admitted as either ‘preliminary’ or ‘partially analysed’. These admissions are, however, often hidden in hard-to-find appendix documents and technical reports.
In addition, in spite of the requests of the regulators, there are no evaluations of the risk of area flooding, of the consequences of an embankment breach, or of the effects of Emergency Discharge on downstream, bankside, communities on the Thames.
These failings are unpardonable in what will be the last chance for the public to comment. As a result, the consultation has fallen short of its legal and democratic purpose.
Our analysis and report identify fundamental and potentially dangerous flaws in the proposals, showing that:
- flood risk is not properly assessed or managed;
- the reservoir water quality would be unsafe, under current plans;
- the design and operation of the reservoir may not meet safety standards;
- irreplaceable historic environments would be destroyed;
- nature is not prioritised;
- the local landscape and biodiversity on the present area are being underestimated, and against the certain destruction of current biodiversity, there are only the vaguest promises of replacement;
- the local landscape is not being respected or integrated; and
- the engagement process lacks transparency and trust.
GARD concludes that the consultation information fails to provide complete assurance that this is a project under any semblance of control at this stage. Customers and local residents will be paying the price for an increasingly costly infrastructure project that is highly unlikely to deliver the benefits claimed and leaves communities exposed to uncertainty and potential harm.
We warn that the lack of clear information and inadequate time for scrutiny have prevented stakeholders from influencing decisions that will have long-term consequences for people, places and the environment.
GARD’s full submission can be read here.
*Due to a lack of clarity on word limits on their consultation response questionnaire Thames Water have had to extend their deadline to reply. You can email http://www.SESRO@ipsos.com until 23rd Jan with your response. Please note replies to previous consultations are not carried forward, you would need . Respond to this consutlation for your concerns to be llogged.
