MP blasts Thames Water

Maxwell Kusi Obodum • Published 28 Jan 2012 12:00 4 Comments

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READING West MP Alok Sharma has angrily accused Thames Water of "moving the goal posts" by trying to change proposed council planning policy to restrict housing density on the Bath Road Reservoir site in Reading.

The company is challenging Reading Borough Council's submitted Sites and Detailed Policies Document (SDPD) which includes recommendations for a maximum of 80 potential homes on the decommissioned site.

The document, being scrutinised by the Government, was submitted by the council to identify development strategy in the borough over the next 20 years,

Thames Water and architects Broadway Malyon are to submit a revised planning application for 79 apartments and family homes at the site. In 2010 a planning inspector quashed its appeal to build 96 home there.

ompany spokeswoman Becky Johnson said: "We have suggested the policy should identify a development range of between 70 and 97 dwellings in order to be consistent with policies contained in the Council Core Strategy. A scheme for 79 units is consistent with this."

But Mr Sharma said: "Thames Water is now attempting to move the goal posts in order to deliver many more homes than is currently proposed. This undermines the trust of local people."

Council spokesman Oscar Mortali said: "The long standing figure of 80 units remains an appropriate level of development and there is no reasonable justification to vary from it."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Jan 12

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Graham Griffiths
Unregistered User
Jan 30, 15:28
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Thames Water have wasted huge amounts of our Water Rates already on unsuitable and universally unpopular plans for the Bath Road Reservoir Site, evidenced by their rejection by a wo week Public Inquiry. As a privatised monopoly they shoud be forced to reveal the total cost involved including the hiring Broadway Malyon since 2007, their array of experts and the costs relating to the Public Inquirey.

Now Thames Water is funding Architects/Planners Broadway Malyon to undermine Reading Borough Council proposals for the site; arrived at through a process which included a number of pulic consulttions. So much for the democratic process and Government claims regarding Localism and the empowerment of local people.

Yours sincerely

Graham Griffiths

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Graham Griffiths
Unregistered User
Jan 30, 21:35
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I would the like to draw reader's attention to Thames Water's neglect of the historic buildings on Bath Road Reservoir Site (but also those at Fobney Lock) and the site in general. The Pump House building has not been maintained despite it only passing out of active use very recently. The front railings which were Grade 2 listed until about 1996 are so ill cared for that rust is eating them away and a number have now broke.

Until Thames Water took this site over it was well maintained; and over the years a thriving degree of biodiversity developed there. Unfortunately, as with any area lack of appropriate maintenance means that rare unimproved grassland is being lost and invasive trees such as sycamore's are pushing out native species. No doubt this is related to Thames Water's unsympathetic plans to 'over-develop' this site. Significant species, with recognised status (including bats and other mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrartes) rarely seen in such a sub-urban location will be lost, leaving Reading the poorer for it - ecology and interest wise.

Any claims Thames Water have in the way looking after our historic heritage or about biodiversity and green credetials are laughable.

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Orbilia
Unregistered User
Feb 1, 20:24
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I could not put it better myself Graham. Thames Water are behaving disgracefully over this site despite the level of local opinion and the general feeling in Britain today that we want responsible capitalism, not usury.

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Glenda
Unregistered User
Feb 7, 06:28
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C'mon Thames Water.

Get your ethical, ecological and pro-active finger out. Can't you see that if you support the Save Bath Road Reservoir campaign and clean up Fobney Lock, you will gain by people commending you for your practices.

No, you don't really care do you, as you have the monopoly. Shame.

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