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Fens reservoir: parking apps, traffic and loos among local issues

Fens Reservoir, planned on land north of Chatteris, is one of two new reservoirs which the government is prioritising, external – the other is in Lincolnshire.

It would supply water to roughly 250,000 homes, and provide new recreational and educational facilities and wildlife wetlands.

The reservoir would be fed by the region’s rivers when levels are high and store the water for drier months.

Anglian Water said a consultation on the plans, which closed last December, showed that 90% of those who responded would visit the site at least annually, with almost half attending monthly.

There were concerns raised about how the reservoir would sit in a flat landscape, disruption during the construction phase, and impact on the local community and wildlife.

People requested that car park payment was not app-only and some called for a railway line to be extended to Chatteris to bring additional benefits.

The importance of using local businesses as suppliers was also raised.

Anglian Water called the feedback “really valuable” and said it will be “using it to shape our proposals.”

Further studies are now taking place until December to establish the ground conditions and ecology in areas earmarked for pipe infrastructure and the main reservoir.

This will involve drilling boreholes and excavation pits, but the company said it is not a sign of construction beginning on the project.

A planning application is due to be submitted in 2027.

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