IN SHORT Thames Water’s latest plan for the proposed Abingdon reservoir does not include the restoration of the Wilts and Berks Canal and its connection under the A34.

Thames Water’s preferred option for a discharge connection to the Thames is a large diameter underground pipe rather than using the canal.

This option throws away any chance to connect the Eastern stretch of the Canal with the Thames, past Abingdon, the Vale of the White Horse and then Swindon. The communities around the currently protected route would no longer get the benefit of cycleways, bridleways, footpaths, and waterways. Thames’s plan also misses the opportunity to develop the new wildlife habitats and biodiversity which establish themselves along the banks and waters edge. 

The proposed tunnel offers the community nothing of benefit and completely misses the opportunity for a positive and lasting legacy from this imposed project.

SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHARE IT TO ENSURE THE HISTORIC WILTS AND BERKS CANAL LINK UNDER THE A34 IS INCLUDED IN THE ABINGDON RESERVOIR PROJECT.

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WHAT IS THE NEW ABINGDON RESERVOIR? 

SESRO, the South East Strategic Reservoir Option (or the Abingdon Reservoir), is currently being promoted by Thames Water, as a solution to the perceived threat to future water supplies in Southeast England.

Designed as a giant ‘holding tank’ for 150 million cubic meters of water, the reservoir will be filled from the River Thames in times of high flow and will discharge back into the river in times of low flow to provide water to the treatment plants downstream, including several serving London. While the reservoir would benefit the whole of Southeast England, it would come at the expense of Oxfordshire land taken between Marcham, Steventon, and Hanney, resulting in agricultural land loss and significant area disruption during the construction phase with little or no local benefit.

THE RESERVOIR WILL ALSO COVER 3 MILES AND 3 LOCKS OF THE THE HISTORIC WILTS & BERKS CANAL.

The 2022 SESRO Masterplan incorporated a diversion of the protected old canal’s course around the flank of the reservoir embankment and included access across the A34. This recreated a canal linkage to the Thames and therefore the rest of the British inland waterways network at Jubilee Junction opposite Culham Cut. The connection from the reservoir to the Thames is an absolutely fundamental requirement and includes an emergency draw-down channel (EDC) that is required by law.

THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE REAL LOCAL BENEFIT IS ABOUT TO BE SQUANDERED. 

The latest plan has changed from an open channel EDC to a large-diameter underground pipe deep underground, throwing away the chance to connect Abingdon into the Vale of White Horse by cycleways, bridleways, footpaths, and waterways, with all the attendant benefits to the local and national population, human and wildlife.

The proposed tunnel offers the community nothing of benefit and completely misses the opportunity for a positive and lasting legacy from this imposed project.

THE OPEN CHANNEL OPTION ALLOWS THE TRUST TO RESTORE THE CANAL from Marcham to the Great Western Railway near Grove. Our Wilts and Berks volunteers can then restore the original line of the canal, providing a beautiful place for the local community. 

OUR AIM IS TO BRING BOATS BACK TO WANTAGE & GROVE and the 30,000 people living in that area. Similar canal restorations demonstrate a 5 to 8-year payback, contributing to social wellbeing, regeneration, and economic prosperity.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AND PASS IT ONTO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT Home Page IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS AMAZING CHARITY AND ITS RESTORATION WORK.