Reservoir

Residents will be aware that a substantial new reservoir is planned at Slough Farm north of Carrington’s Road (map).  The construction of the 6.5 ha 30 metre deep pit will involve the extraction of approximately 300,000 tonnes of aggregate over a period of three years.  There will be up to 60 truck movements a day when this material is being carted away to Martells Pit Ardleigh via a new access route between the reservoir site and Hall Road (B1029).  When completed the reservoir will hold 36 million gallons of water. 

The proponents' representatives have consulted the parish council during the planning application process and briefed residents on the proposal at a public meeting held on Thursday 13 March 2008 at Great Bromley village hall.  A report of this meeting appeared in the Bromley Messenger.

Following the decision of Essex County Council (ECC) in February that an environmental impact assessment should be undertaken the consultants for the applicant submitted a Request for a Scoping Opinion to ECC which sought guidance on what should be included in the assessment.  ECC put this request document out for consultation and Great Bromley Parish Council responded (letter) by suggesting that the following should be included: the effect on adjacent ancient woodland and other trees, the effect on local well water supplies (household and garden irrigation), the effect on wildlife in the area and the effect of increased water abstraction in the general area once the reservoir has been built.  The hydrogeologist’s report in the supporting documentation confirmed that there is likely to be a considerable reduction in the local water table during reservoir construction, an issue of great concern to residents in the vicinity.

A formal ECC directive, on what must be included in the environmental impact assessment, has now been issued and takes on board many of the concerns voiced by the parish council and residents.