By Harry Mottram: After years of speculation about a second reservoir the project on Axbridge’s doorstep now seems a reality with public drop in sessions at various locations – with one in Axbridge Town Hall on Friday 19th September, 2025. Large displays, brochures, leaflets, and maps reveal the massive scale of the project that will see the landscape of the valley changed forever. Vast amounts of soil and subsoil and underlying strata will be dug up to create the irregular shaped reservoir as hundreds of workers and plant equipment descend on the site south of the current one to commence work in the coming years.
One of the surprises has been the wide area that will be part of the ‘zone of operation’ with several fields to the south and west of the reservoir earmarked for activities. I was assured that although on the map the red areas show an area far larger than expected it didn’t mean they would be closed to the public or dug up – and if they were used then it would be in steps. Which means Cheddar Cricket pitch will not be dug up – but pipelines will follow part of the Strawberry Line next to Sharpham Road playing fields.
However, as the consultants in the town hall kept explaining, the results of the consultation sessions could mean changes so some of the details may be changed as the moment of spades being pressed into the soil nears. Some things are certain: the reservoir will be constructed south of the current one built in the 1930s and will be deeper and hold more water than the original. Plant, equipment, offices and the workers and their cars will be using a large area to the west of the reservoir.
And access will be one or two (or even three) of these options for workers, diggers, lorries and all the kit needed. The favourite appears to be off the A371 near the former yogurt factory with a new roundabout and road cutting down to the reservoir near the sailing club and then curling round to the existing treatment works on the Axbridge side where a second treatment works will be built. Using the access along Sharpham Road will be another – probably for lighter traffic – as the bridge on New Road has a weight limit. A third one (which I have speculated on) is a temporary road from the A38 up the valley – this has not been ruled out – but there are concerned over the fear of flooding in the winter – or so I was told.
Around 50 people were in attendance when I visited and more were arriving – it continues to 8pm on Friday night – so considerable interest – especially from the land owners. These include the farmers but also several small holdings and stables. Yes they will be paid for their land – but for those with a couple of ponies and a stable and a paddock on the moor – finding a replacement could be costly and difficult. And on Hythe Lane there is a farm and several agricultural buildings which will surely be demolished during construction.
The structure of Cheddar Res 2 will be similar to the old one. A bowl dug out of the ground with the spoil helping to form the raised banks – the a lining of the banks with water proof concrete or bricks and the base being the underlying clay geology which lies naturally several metres down under the strata – the reason why the site was chosen.
There are many questions about the timing and the details of the project – but I was assured the old reservoir’s path around it will remain open as will Sharpham Road playing fields – although there was a question of access to the clay pits during some of the time. More details on the proposed reservoir and its long pipeline which snakes all the way to Devon are on the website of WCWE England and Wales, West Country Water and Environment (formerly known as West Country Water Resources) at https://www.westcountrywaterandenvironment.org/flagship-projects/cheddar-reservoir-sro/about-the-cheddar-2-sro-project
WCWE were tasked by the government under the National Framework for Water Resources to create a regional water resources plan that looks ahead to 2050 and beyond. Bristol Water own the reservoir and they are owned by South West Water who are under the umbrella group of WCWE. The Pennon Group in Exeter own South West Water.
Consultations continue into next year ahead of planning proposals in 2027 and work beginning in 2030 – and water flowing out of the new reservoir in 2030. Will it happen? Yes – but there are always delays in projects of this size – but it now appears to be ‘a go situation.’
Previous articles on the project including on the building of the first Cheddar Reservoir on the eve of World War 2 are here:
Axbridge News 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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