By Harry Mottram: It’s not everyday that Axbridge Review scoops, the BBC, Somerset Live and perhaps more importantly The New Civil Engineer – but that’s what has happened this autumn when I published news that Cheddar Reservoir 2 was back on the agenda.
Following my write up those three news organisations ran stories largely based on the information given out by Bristol Water is a media request from Axbridge Review. Sarah Bullock for the BBC wrote: “Engineers have begun surveying land south of Bristol as plans for a new reservoir are resurrected. South West Water confirmed it is looking at constructing a second reservoir near Cheddar in Somerset. It is hoped the new reservoir – known as Cheddar 2 – would help with the drinking water supply for Bristol and across the South West, and was included in the water company’s five year business plan.”
While Rob Hackman of The New Civil Engineer reported: “South West Water has confirmed it will construct the Cheddar 2 reservoir in Bristol to improve the region’s water resilience, six years after the plans were scrapped. The existing Cheddar reservoir in Somerset was constructed by Sir Robert McAlpine in the 1930s for Bristol Water. The water company had proposed a second reservoir adjacent to it in 2007 and started survey work in 2012, but the plan was scrapped in 2018. In February 2023, South West Water merged with Bristol Water, with all assets and responsibilities transferring to South West Water. As part of its £2.8bn investment plans for the eighth asset management period (AMP8), 2025-2030, South West Water has revealed its intention to construct the previously mothballed reservoir. The Cheddar 2 reservoir development will include treatment works and a connection to Bickham Moore. Construction will commence during AMP8 and is planned to be in operational use in 2032-33.”
Anecdotally land owners have told Axbridge Review that surveyors have been accessing the land expected to be the site of the reservoir in recent weeks as work steps up ahead of full scale construction. Last time the utility held public consultations and local exhibitions detailing the plans which then included a swathe of farm land south of the current reservoir including a farm and several agricultural buildings. Clearly in the six or more years since the last plans were canned things have changed as remarked by Tristan Cork for Somerset Live – the website of the Reach plc owned Western Daily Press and Bristol Evening Post. He penned: “But with the needs of a growing population in both Bristol and nearby Weston-super-Mare, the possibilities of climate change bringing more extreme periods of rain and drought, and with Bristol Water now bought out by South West Water, the idea is back in play again.”
As previously mentioned Axbridge Review believes the project to dig the new reservoir may need an access road from the A38 like the one built for the pylons’ construction across the Mendip gap recently. Heavy plant would have trouble accessing the site off Hellier’s Lane without using minor roads. Back in 2017 rumours that anthrax infected cattle carcasses had been buried south of the current reservoir proved to be unfounded. As did the thought there may be a Romano British settlement there – as reported by The Cheddar Valley Gazette. The plans in 2017 implied the new reservoir would be irregular is shape, have facilities for water sports and even an island for birdlife. It would also be slightly smaller is size but deeper to cut down on evaporation.
Residents will be pleased to know that the reservoir is back up to 95% full following a summer when the level of water was so low the yacht club were unable to use it. My article explained the reasons why the level of water was low despite the heavy summer rains: https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/2024/10/11/axbridge-news-the-real-reason-why-the-levels-in-cheddar-reservoir-were-so-low-this-summer-despite-the-unseasonally-heavy-rain/
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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