People urged to have their say on new reservoir

Anglian Water says the new reservoir will help meet growing demand

Fresh details of a project to create a new reservoir in Lincolnshire have been set out.

Anglian Water is proposing a site south-east of Sleaford, between Grantham and Boston, to meet "growing demands" on supplies.

The proposal also includes infrastructure to transfer water from the River Trent and the River Witham to the reservoir and a new treatment works.

A consultation will run until 9 August, with landowners, homeowners and other members of local communities being asked to give their opinions.

The BBC previously reported that 50 homes could be demolished to make way for the scheme, with one local farmer branding the proposal "nonsensical".

Geoff Darch, the head of supply and demand strategy at Anglian Water said the reservoir presented "social, economic and environmental opportunities".

"In the time that we’ve been developing the reservoir proposals, we’ve seen one of the hottest summers on record and one of the wettest winters," he added.

"It’s a timely reminder of how our region is changing and why we need to take action to prepare for the future."

'Nature-rich destination'

The plans for the main reservoir propose a connection to the South Forty-Foot Drain, the construction of a lagoon for recreation and another for wildlife.

Pumping stations would move water into the main reservoir and the lagoons.

The project would be designed to "create the foundations for a nature-rich destination" and "health, wellbeing, nature, education and economic opportunities", documents state.

Anglian Water said the reservoir would support activities such as open-water swimming and kayaking, as well as walking, angling, horse riding and cycling.

Pipelines and waterways

In addition to the initial designs, plans for the wider infrastructure required to supply water to the area have also been laid out.

Water would be taken from the River Trent and River Witham using new underground pipelines, as well as existing waterways.

Anglian Water said a treatment works would be built near Swaton, with the water taken to a smaller reservoir before entering the supply at Wilsthorpe and Chesterton in Cambridgeshire.

A month-long series of consultation events will run from 19 June.

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