Abingdon reservoir the size of 2,500 football pitches would destroy local habitats, say campaigners

Video report by ITV News Meridian's Mark McQuillan

Campaigners against plans for a reservoir the size of 2,500 football pitches say it will completely destroy local habitats.

Thames Water is proposing to build the reservoir over six square miles of land at Abingdon.

It will supply water to people in London and the South East, one of several reservoirs planned across the country to help tackle climate change. 

Campaigners who have been fighting the potential development for more than twenty years believe it will be an eyesore, causing pollution and destroying nature.

Derek Stoke said: "It's always been a disaster for this area. An environmental and amenity disaster for this area, complete dislocation.

"It takes 10 years to build...12 years to the end of completion.

"It's a construction site as large as Terminal 5 at Heathrow. It's a 24/7 operation with dust, pollution, noise traffic, and diversions."

Thames Water says projects like this are needed to have a sustainable water supply for the future.

A spokesperson said: "To ensure we have a secure and sustainable water supply for future generations we need to invest in new sources of water.

"Working with other water companies, we are looking at five strategic water resource solutions. We are examining the feasibility of these solutions to understand how much water they could supply, how much they will cost to build and operate, their carbon footprint, and the wider benefits they could bring to the environment and society."

"This is the first of a number of stages intended to screen out non-viable options and allow further, more detailed assessment of the other options in the future. We will continue to work openly with stakeholders through this long and detailed process, with more public consultations on both the regional plans and company plans ahead."

Plans for the reservoir will be going to public consultation.