First image released of proposed reservoir

Anglian Water will hold a public consultation on the reservoir plan

A water company has released an artist's impression of what a proposed new reservoir could look like.

Fifty homes could be demolished to make way for the scheme, near Scredington, which Anglian Water said was vital for the region due to increasingly dry summers.

If permission is granted, the reservoir would hold 12bn gallons of water (55bn litres).

Construction could begin as early as 2029, Anglian Water said.

Hannah Thorogood's farm would be destroyed to make way for the reservoir

Hannah Thorogood, a farmer who lives at the proposed site, branded the proposal "nonsensical".

She said: "I don't know of any reservoir in history where they've removed a hill to put a reservoir in."

Anglian Water said predictions from the Met Office showed the east of England would become "hotter and drier in summer, and wetter in winter".

"There is a pressing need to store winter water to cope with summer droughts," a spokesperson for the water company said.

It said the location "performed best across a range of the key factors".

"It also provides the potential opportunities to deliver wider benefits to the regional economy and neighbouring communities," they added.

The plan is still in the early stages, with a second public consultation on the proposal set to take place at the end of May. The government will make the final decision.

Anglian Water said if consent is granted, construction could begin "around 2029-2031".

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