Havant Borough Council has agreed to support key issues raised by residents over recycled water and the concerns about the process behind the project.
Responding to key issues raised during a public meeting held at the Public Service Plaza on 15 February, the council has now formally endorsed the consultation responses. These also reflect the considerations made by Cabinet on 8 February and include residents’ concerns.
Listening to the concerns of residents, urgent clarification is being sought by Havant Borough Council, from Portsmouth Water regarding its future water supply. Asking the water company to confirm if this will be met through spring water which residents value, and is entrenched in Havant’s history and economy, or whether this will be mixed with recycled water from the reservoir.
The council has also agreed to write to the Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and to work with Government to ensure the Development Consent Order is considered on a full understanding of the development proposed. This will also guarantee that all interested stakeholders are being given the opportunity to contribute.
Following the recent draft Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) consultation held by Portsmouth Water and Southern Water, Havant Borough Council has also agreed it will remain robust in monitoring the emerging proposals to transfer filtered, treated wastewater to the Havant Thicket Reservoir
In 2021, when outline planning permission was granted for the Havant Thicket Reservoir, it was stated that the reservoir would be used for winter storage, using excess spring water. This spring water, mixed with rain, would then be provided to Southern Water to address the need to take less from the Rivers Test and Itchen, which are extremely rare chalk stream habitats.
The use of treated recycled water from Budds Farm Wastewater Treatment Works and the involvement of Southern Water has only formed part of the planning proposals for the reservoir after the reservoir gained planning permission.
The Leader of Havant Borough Council, Councillor Alex Rennie, said “After hearing our residents’ concerns at the recent public meeting, I am determined to make sure that there is clear information about this significant proposal. So, I am going to be writing to the Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, with our concerns in relation to this.”
Councillor Elizabeth Lloyd, Cabinet lead for Local Plan, Environment and Water Quality, said during a meeting held of the Full Council; “This council’s stance remains one of concern and caution regarding the proposal to send filtered, treated wastewater from Budds Farm to the Havant Thicket Reservoir.
While I’m sure we all agree that water is a vital commodity needed by everyone, at this point we are wary of the collaboration between Portsmouth Water and Southern Water on this project, not least because of Southern Water’s reputation for water management.
It is our duty to support the residents and taxpayers who trust us to get to the bottom of such matters, alert the authoritative bodies where concerns arise and hold the water companies to account.”