Behind the banners
Threat to Homes
The rise in ground water will increase the risk of the flooding which causes great damage to homes.
Threat to Nature
Over four square miles of countryside would be destroyed if the reservoir is constructed. Overall, the development would significantly reduce the area’s biodiversity. Thames Water’s claim to improve biodiversity is based on no more than theoretical desk exercises. Thames Water couldn’t even spot the large number of irreplaceable veteran and ancient trees on the site.
Threat to Life
If there were a sudden breach of the bund (the wall of the reservoir) for any reason – accidental cracking, sabotage, terrorist attack – water would pour out under great pressure. The closest houses and people would have about a minute before being submerged. The likelihood is very small but the effect is catastrophic.
This will affect you.
Anyone who lives within 20 miles of the construction, anyone who is a Thames Water customer, anyone who uses the A34 – will be affected.
Property Damage
The ground water rise of 1 metre and the sealing over of the flood plains will result in increased flooding of and damage to homes in the surrounding villages.
Uninsurable
Identified flood risk makes it difficult and very expensive to insure homes.
Decrease in Property Value
The proposed reservoir now appears on all property searches. Home values could fall or the houses become unsellable.
Destruction of Hedges and Line of Trees
Fifty-three miles of hedges and lines of trees would be destroyed. Many endangered species inhabit the hedgerows and lines of trees that cross the area, these include nationally rare bird and bat species.
Destruction of Ancient and Veteran Trees
Two hundred ancient and veteran trees would be destroyed. The historical landscape contains a high concentration of irreplaceable trees. These support great biodiversity and are home to wildlife, including owls, bats, voles and woodpeckers. We would lose three fine examples of one of Britain’s rarest trees: the Wild Pear, and over 60% of Oxfordshire’s registered ancient and veteran willow trees.
Destruction of Watercourses
Thirty- six miles of watercourses would be destroyed. These are the core of the green corridor that stretches across the site and provide important habitat for wildlife.
This will affect you.
Destruction of habitat by massive construction over a decade will take centuries to repair. The impact this could have on our climate would be significant.