Revived plans to build a seven kilometre square reservoir between Abingdon, Steventon and East Hanney should be dropped, said Oxfordshire County Council.

The council’s official response to the Water Resources South East (WRSE) regional plan for securing future water supplies was discussed by the council’s cabinet at its meeting today.

Water Resources South East (WRSE) is an alliance of the six water companies that supply drinking water across the south east, including Thames Water.

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It recommended that the reservoir should not be included as there is insufficient evidence that it is needed and other options would be better value.

Cllr Pete Sudbury, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said: “In my opinion the assumptions underlying the reservoir plan are deeply flawed. The forecast need for additional water supply appears to be exaggerated, particularly given the sharp reductions in England’s predicted population over the last few years.

“It makes no sense at all to build a reservoir in Oxfordshire to cater for London and the South, instead of bringing water in from other less water-stressed regions or progressing other options.

"These include recycling and better water management, which their own data reveal have the potential to produce over 10 times as much water as the reservoir, with far less climate and environmental impact."

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He added: “The water companies must dramatically reduce leakage from existing water pipes to meet future needs. The target in this plan is to reduce leakage by 50 per cent between 2017 and 2050.

"However, we believe there is scope to reduce leakage faster, and by more.”

The cabinet will submit their final response after their meeting today.