By Harry Mottram: The building of a second reservoir in Cheddar Valley has been a stop/start project for arguably 86 years with plans accelerated in the last 15 years. When the first reservoir was built in the 1930s there had been a possibility of constructing a sister reservoir alongside it. The outbreak of World War Two scotched any thoughts of that idea and back then of course there were far fewer consumers in the area with many homes yet to have running water installed.
By 2010 and the population had increased with new housing estates across the valley – with more being built today and more proposed in the immediate future. Bristol Water put forward proposals in 2013 with detailed plans for the ‘pear-shaped’ reservoir south of the current one which would include wildlife sections for waterfowl, picnic areas, nature trails and bird hides for ornithologists. The feedback during the public consultations then saw road congestion from construction traffic as the main concern since lorries would need to use Upper and Lower New Road to access the site – with Lower New Road as a B road (B3151) normally a no-go for HGVs. Exceptions can be made but since 2013 more homes have been built in the area and anyone who has been stuck in a traffic jam on Upper New Road during the school run will know the problems.
HGVs coming from the Wedmore side would be using more B roads and it would be unlikely the rate payers of Wedmore would be prepared to put up with that even if times were limited to set periods of the week. Another possibility is access to the site from the Axbridge ‘Silver Birch Avenue’ but that would entail bulldozing the existing parking areas, trees and more infrastructure – so a no-no there. And access along Portmead Drove, Sharpham Road or Hellier’s Lane all seem unlikely – so as I have suggested previously a temporary access road from the A38 following the line of the old River Axe seems the most practical.
In 2013 Bristol Water said that as well as planning when construction traffic can move – to avoid peak traffic periods and late nights – it would also draw up a ‘construction environmental management plan’ to minimise the effect on the condition of the roads. That was 12 years ago – so the idea of allowing heavy plant to use the local roads at off-peak times seems optimistic to put it mildly – look at the HGV movements around Hinkley Point and see the volume of trucks going in and out of the site to get an idea of the problem.
The second concern from the public in 2013 was the removal of hundreds of mature trees and miles of hedgerows from the Hellier’s Lane area. Walkers and cyclists along that lane will have seen the rich wildlife or flora and fauna with roe deer, foxes, badgers and hares a common sight. It would be destruction on a large scale – with only the prospect of an eventual waterscape with its attendant wildlife such as herons, trout and migrating wildfowl to mitigate it.
Although there are some dissenting voices the collective wisdom is a new reservoir is needed for the growing population – and the Government have pledged several more across the country. A new one being constructed in Hampshire gives an idea of what is to come although as is normal these days if you believe the PR from Southern Water who are behind the scheme they are constructing Havant Thicket Reservoir to ‘protect’ local rivers and to ‘protect some of our country’s rarest chalk streams.’ This is true in part but one hard factor is to ensure the utility company’s value is maintained with the new reservoir – should the Australian owner Macquarie decide to sell it at some point. Macquarie have just this week bailed out Southern Water with £1.2 bn which should keep the CEO Lawrence Gosden of the firm happy on his £764,200 salary and prevent the firm entering administration since like Thames Water it is in debt.
Havant Thicket Reservoir is different from Cheddar in many ways due to its location, but it is similar in size which gives an idea of some of the potential issues ahead – as work has already begun. It has passed the planning stage and test drilling stage and that has thrown up one problem – the underlying clay bed is not as consistent as hoped – it means the base of the reservoir will need reinforcing to prevent the water draining away. Cheddar Reservoir also relies on the clay geology of the valley and when water levels are low the yellow sticky mud-like-clay that is exposed is what keeps the water in – since the clay is water resistant.
Bristol Water is owned by South West Water based in Devon – and like Thames Water and Southern Water has its fair share of problems – from sewage spills to hikes in water charges to huge debts. But as one critic of these utilities suggested to me by building a reservoir they are on message with the Government’s infrastructure plans, and increasing the potential value of the utility since their one resource – water – falls from the sky for free. And we all need water.
For more on Havant Thicket Reservoir visit https://havant-thicket-reservoir.uk.engagementhq.com/
For more on Cheddar Reservoir 2 in my last article visit https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/2025/06/30/axbridge-review-its-full-speed-ahead-for-cheddar-reservoir-2-after-environment-agency-report-with-public-consultations-first-and-a-planning-application-to-follow-but-it-is-two-years-at-least-be/
And for an article on the first reservoir built in the 1930s visit https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/journalist/axbridge/axbridge-features/axbridge-review-looking-back-to-the-1930s-when-400-men-steam-power-and-picks-and-shovels-built-cheddar-reservoir-in-the-shadow-of-the-second-world-war/
Axbridge Review is edited by Harry Mottram and is published for the interest of himself and fellow residents.
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Email:harryfmottram@gmail.com
Website:www.harrymottram.co.uk
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