Alicia Kearns MP has submitted her consultation response on Anglian Water's new reservoir in Lincolnshire:
"I am pleased Anglian Water is taking the views of residents and communities across Lincolnshire. Given the new reservoir will not be located in the constituency of Rutland and Stamford I will focus my comments on the impact of the proposed reservoir on our communities, as the scheme would require a significant length of pipelines to run North to South through Lincolnshire.
"I have some concerns as to how the plans set out in the consultation interplay with the delivery of existing projects, and how both will impact the communities I serve.
"Anglian Water has a number of pipe routes and infrastructure already at early stage installation across villages in South Kesteven as part of the Anglian Water Greater Lincolnshire Investment Plan (GLIP). Only a proportion of the GLIP has been installed, and the date to recommence works has now been postponed and I am led to believe will not now commence locally again until 2026.
"I would put on record my frustration at Anglian Water’s decision not to recommence completion of the work for GLIP until 2026. It is difficult to understand a decision to leave swathes of land with half constructed infrastructure, not least when the project is to provide resilience in supply to areas of the South-East of the country. This decision is further difficult to understand when Anglian Water’s 2024 performance report states the last 12 months saw strong financial performance, with regulated revenue of £1.5 billion (up 10.1 per cent) and operating profit of £337 million (up 3.9 per cent). It appears Anglian Water has the profits available to it to complete GLIP on schedule rather than leaving half-built pipelines as eyesores around our communities.
"I am concerned about Anglian Water’s capacity to conclude the pipeline construction works currently approved and in progress (albeit suspended) for the Anglian Water Greater Lincolnshire Investment Plan in time to conclude them, as proposed, before works commence to build this new reservoir. This would then leave communities with disruption from two projects at once. However, from the maps available it also appears the succession of projects will also see my constituents face consecutive projects with work conducted in our communities, and associated disruption, from 2024-2039 which is an extremely long period of time.
"What reassurances can be given that the proposed new reservoir’s construction will not delay further or in any way impact the Greater Lincs Investment Plan (GLIP)?
"I would be grateful for further reassurances regarding the efforts that would be put in place to prevent undue interruption to communities along the pipeline construction route for the reservoir, and plans to minimise disruption so it does not (combined) last over a decade for our communities, and reassurances that all efforts to complete the GLIP as soon as possible are being made.
"What representations are Anglian Water making to, and planned accommodations for, residents of Lound, Braceborough, Greatford, Uffington and Thurlby who will be impacted by the associated infrastructure needed to support this new reservoir?
"In some cases, these villages have only a singular road that runs through them, and if the timing is not careful, and the works improperly managed they could easily become isolated or seriously inconvenienced by any work that impact the roads. Within your interactive map, you clearly show a number of roads being in the area of development, so I would ask for further reassurances you will not isolate any villages whose roads are within the development framework.
"I look forward to discussing these reassurances with Anglian Water in coming months to ensure the communities we serve get the best possible service, with the minimal possible disruption to their lives."
