Anglian Water reveals latest feedback on Fens Reservoir

The company said it received 438 feedback submissions during its third phase of consultation on the proposed reservoir between Chatteris and March, alongside 800 attendees at consultation events.

The consultation focused on updated proposals for the main reservoir site, which is on land north of Chatteris, associated water infrastructure, construction plans, environmental measures and early ideas for renewable power.

Anglian Water said the feedback would help shape the next stage of design, with the company stressing that comments would be weighed not just by how often points were raised, but by how they fit with water supply needs, value for customers and what can realistically be delivered.

Anglian Water has published the results of its third round of consultation on the proposed Fens Reservoir, which will be located outside of Chatteris. (Image: Anglian Water)

Traffic emerged as the biggest issue in the feedback summary, with 836 comments recorded on transport matters.

Other heavily raised topics included public access, amenity and recreation, with 481 comments, consultation itself with 310 comments, landscape and visual amenity with 248, ecology with 218, water resources with 157, carbon and climate with 154, land quality, soils and agriculture with 146, socio-economic issues with 110, and noise and vibration with 27.

Respondents said the A141, A142 and A10 are already busy and raised worries about congestion, road safety, junction design and the condition of local roads.

The report says there were calls for safer crossings, alternatives to signalised crossings, better links for walkers and cyclists, and careful planning to avoid overspill parking in nearby villages.

An aerial image of how the Fenland reservoir is likely to look once it is built. (Image: Anglian Water)

Landscape and visual impact were another recurring theme, with some respondents saying they supported the overall design but wanted more detail on how the reservoir would fit into the flat Fenland landscape.

Concerns were also raised about embankment height, visual prominence, and possible effects on places and uses, including Chatteris Airfield and Block Fen RSPCA Centre.

Feedback on construction highlighted concerns about noise, disruption, worker accommodation, material movements and the suitability of local routes for heavy traffic.

The report says people wanted local firms to benefit from the project, but also called for disruption to be minimised during the build.

An artist's impression of how the Fens Reservoir might look offering lots of leisure activities for the community. (Image: Anglian Water)

The report shows strong interest in visitor facilities and recreation.

Popular ideas for the recreational hub included a cafe, toilets and changing facilities, outdoor seating, play areas, informal exhibition space and information areas, while other suggestions included mountain biking, bird watching, camping, boating and a bus stop.

For the western zone, the most requested features were a cafe with toilets, a viewpoint area and an education space.

In the eastern zone, respondents most often asked for a coffee or tea truck, bird hides and boardwalks, and toilet facilities.

Anglian Water also said there was broad support for exploring renewable power at the site, including solar and battery storage, although some respondents questioned visual impacts and the loss of farmland.

On the water infrastructure side, there was general support for the raw water transfer proposals, but respondents wanted more detail on pipelines, pumping stations, flood risk and local environmental effects.

Anglian Water says it will now use the feedback, alongside further technical and environmental assessment work, to refine the design before the next consultation stage.

It said future updates would include more detail on the environmental impact assessment, transport proposals, water sources infrastructure and the evolving reservoir design.

The company added that it would continue discussions with landowners, local communities, highways authorities, flood bodies and environmental organisations as the project develops.

The reservoir is intended to help secure water supplies for future generations and could, from as early as 2036, begin supplying enough water for more than 250,000 homes a year.

In the document outlining the feedback, Anglian Water said: "It’s clear people want us to think carefully about, and provide more information on, specific areas including construction impacts and traffic and transport.

"These are important issues for us too and will be key considerations as we carry out the next stage of our work to develop the proposals further.

"In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with local landowners, homeowners and businesses who may be affected by the project. This will help us understand any concerns, offer support where needed, and explore ways to minimise potential impacts as much as possible."