Campaigners welcome the sinking of reservoir plans

 

Campaigners welcome the sinking of reservoir plans

An organisation established by trade union militant and right to roam hero Benny Rothman has welcomed the decision by Severn Trent (ST) Water to abandon their controversial plans to expand a reservoir in the Upper Derwent Valley (UDV) of the Peak District, the site of Rothman’s historic 1932 trespass over Kinder Scout. The protest played a significant part in the successful campaign for public access to moors and mountains. The Kinder and High Peak Advisory Committee (KHPAC) was set up in 1986 by Rothman after the National Trust acquired much of Kinder Scout.

Three years later Rothman set up a campaign to oppose the Water Bill’s threat to close access to open country owned by the newly privatised England and Wales water companies. 

So, if he had been alive today, Rothman, who died in 2002, would have been delighted to see so many organisations coming together to resist ST’s £300m plans to double the capacity of Ladyblower, Derwent and Howden reservoirs by either constructing a fourth reservoir above Howden or higher dams downstream. When the existing dams were built between 1901 and 1945 the villages of Ashopton and Derwent were submerged.

ST were hoping to start building from 2030 and finish by 2033 when footpaths, recreational facilities and habitats, including ancient woodlands, were to be washed away.

The KHPAC principally represents walkers, climbers, horse riders and mountain bikers but also includes some outdoor activity centres, mountain rescue and some socially under-represented groups.

They wrote to ST pointing out that the ‘UDV is in the Natural Zone, the essential core of the Peak District National Park, and is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers open and easy access to dramatic landscapes and tranquil areas of wild character that are valued by so many – to the benefit of their, and the Nation’s health and well-being.’

The area is a much-valued cultural heritage and is accorded the highest protection designations possible.

ST’s plans revealed it was unconcerned about the impact on the local rural economy despite it being underpinned by the recreation community.

Faced with such overwhelming local opposition ST was forced to abandon its proposals to increase its storage capacity at the three reservoirs, which supplies Sheffield, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham, beyond its current 464 billion litres. Citing the expected 12m rise in the UK population by 2050, ST would be examining other options.

Rothman’s great friend Roly Smith, a long-standing KHPAC member of and author of over 90 books on walking and the countryside, believes ST should be looking to “fix the leaks. If this was done there wouldn’t be any need to consider enlarging any of the reservoirs in ST’s vast area.” In 2022 Severn Trent lost 151.3 billion litres of water and Yorkshire Water 103.3 billion, around 55% of the capacity of the three reservoirs.

A Unite Education booklet Benny Rothman - a fighter for the right to roam, workers’ rights and socialism by Mark Metcalf, can be downloaded at: - https://markwritecouk.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/6328-benny-rothman.pdf

I am available to speak about Benny Rothman at union branch meetings. Expenses need covering. 07392 852561