The petition of residents of the constituency of Aylesbury,
Declares that Thames Water should be required to make residential amenity the top priority when considering the location of a new large water booster station in Buckland which will have a severe negative impact on the lives of those living in neighbouring properties.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to ensure that Thames Water locates this new water booster station well away from residential properties.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Rob Butler, Official Report, 24 April 2024; Vol. 748, c. 1106.]
[P002961]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Barclay):
Thank you very much for sharing your petition with me, as Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We note and share the concerns raised by your constituents regarding the proposed location of a new water booster station in the Buckland area, which is being developed by Thames Water.
We note the petitioners’ concerns regarding the potential impact of infrastructure projects on residential communities. With any new infrastructure project, it is important to ensure we consider the wellbeing and quality of life of nearby residents. This should include consideration of a range of options.
The design and specific location of the water booster proposal is being developed by Thames Water, who held a public consultation in December 2023 where concerns were raised by Buckland Parish Council and MP Rob Butler. Following these discussions, Thames Water committed to assessing the feasibility of relocating the station to an alternative site suggested by Buckland Parish Council. Once feasibility of the alternative site is confirmed, Thames Water plans to conduct further public engagement sessions before submitting a planning application to Buckinghamshire Council.
Thames Water has also taken steps to address concerns raised by residents regarding the impact of the new water booster station on residential amenity. The current design of the station was developed to incorporate feedback from the local planning authority, following multiple rounds of pre-planning application advice considering various locations. However, following the public engagement session in 2023, it became evident that not all stakeholder feedback had been adequately incorporated. As a result, Thames Water is currently assessing the feasibility of relocating the water booster station to an alternative site to minimise the impact on residential amenity. Additionally, the station has been designed to blend in with the local surroundings, featuring an enclosed timber barn-like structure and incorporating screening landscape planting.
It is right that Thames Water take the appropriate steps to look at a range of options and continue to consult those affected, adapting plans where necessary to minimise any impact on local residents.