Hundreds of residents have raised concerns about plans from Taylor Wimpey to build 95 houses in Shiplake, with residents worried the drainage from the site will contaminate the water supply in Shiplake, Harpsden, and Henley.
One of the biggest housebuilders in the country, Taylor Wimpey has planning permission to build 95 homes at the former Thames Farm site off Reading Road, Shiplake.
However, no development can begin until a drainage strategy, detailing all on and off-site surface and foul drainage works, has been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).
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Plans have been submitted to pump excess rainwater into a culvert running beneath the main road and then out into the river across private land to the south of the Jubilee Park sports ground in Henley.
But Thames Water says it is unwilling to support the drainage plan, with Shiplake Parish Council, Henley-On-Thames Parish Council, and hundreds of residents also objecting.
Due to the sink holes and poor ground conditions found on site, Taylor Wimpey plans to grout and compact the ground so they have a stable base to build upon.
By grouting these holes there is a risk that cement, and other materials will contaminate the drinking water supply.
Campaigners Thames Farm Action Group says Taylor Wimpey has failed to provide an assessment as to how their proposed plans will impact on the water supply, which means that it is not possible to determine whether the drinking water supply will remain protected.
They said: “No one should be allowed to take risks with such a fundamental natural resource which is so material to how we live.
“Unpolluted drinking water is a right that we have to protect. We must ensure that the authorities respect this position. There will be no reverse process if they get it wrong.”
As well as concerns about the water supply being contaminated, there is also worry about the drainage plans could lead to extra flooding at sports pitches at Jubilee Park, Henley-On-Thames.
Jubilee Park has been identified by South Oxfordshire District Council as a site for a new artificial sports pitch, necessary to meet future needs of the area, but the risk of flooding would likely jeopardise those plans, according to Henley-On-Thames Town Council.
Around 300 comments have been sent in by residents, with most of these believed to be objections.
Heather and Vaughan Tanner, who own the property where the proposed drainage discharge will be pumped say the location is “entirely unsuitable” for accepting contaminated water from over a kilometre away.
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Ms Tanner said: “The watercourse only flows one or two days a year at most, and is entirely unsuitable to accept this contaminated water, actively pumped from a scheme over a kilometre away.
“It is incredible that such a scheme is even proposed.
“I presume that the various authorities would find it completely unacceptable for me to pump water from any development of my property onto the Taylor-Wimpey/Thames Farm site and rightly so.
“The proposed scheme is entirely inappropriate and pumping contaminated water over 1km away for release onto land already within the floodplain cannot be acceptable.”
Although SODC had refused to grant planning permission for the 95 homes, the developer successfully appealed the decision but has not yet been able to put forward a drainage strategy that satisfies the council or local residents, with the latest plan no less controversial.
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