Severn Trent Water are planning to increase the inundation of the Upper Derwent Valley in the heart of the Peak District National Park by either quote:

"raising individual dams, raising multiple dams, constructing a new reservoir"

Whichever options are chosen, the Valley’s pristine wild landscape will be flooded and and wildlife destroyed

What is at stake:

Big business devastation in the heart of the original and mother of all the UK's National Parks

The exploitation of pristine upland water to cut costs and increase profitability

The green/eco-washing of a proposal that will devastate the environment of the Upper Derwent Valley

The cynical attempt to portray this proposal as having benefits to biodiversity

The loss of recreational areas to millions of visitors for many years to come

Prolonged severe disturbance and upheaval for wildlife, visitors and residents during construction

The destruction of iconic Victorian Gothic-styled monumental gritstone dam walls

The desecration of a war memorial to brave airmen's sacrifice so that we can live freely

In 2021, there were 2537 sewage spills by Severn Trent Water into the River Derwent which flows from these reservoirs and the discharges ran for 17,695 hours

In 2020/21, Severn Trent Water lost 151,329,000,000 litres were through leaking pipes

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose Severn Trent Water’s plans for the Upper Derwent Valley.