VILLAGERS have told Southern Water managers to their face that they don’t want a new drought relief scheme.

Thirty people gathered to show their opposition to the company’s plans for a new pipeline from near Totford to Itchen Abbas.

A planning application was submitted earlier this year by Southern Water which says the Candover Drought Relief Scheme to the north of Alresford is needed to help maintain water supply and reduce any impact on rivers.

In the event of drought the pipe would move water from the Candover Valley to the River Itchen.

READ MORE HERE: Battle lines being drawn over proposed pipeline

People at Northington Village Hall included residents of Brown Candover, Chiltern Candover and Preston Candover.

Southern Water answered many questions and explained the thinking behind the scheme which will operate when drought orders have been put in place. The scheme includes underground piping and also five sections on the surface.

After the meeting Northington Parish Council, under chairman Dennis Nye, submitted a strong objection to the proposal.

Basingstoke Gazette: Map of proposed 8.1km pipe from Totford to Itchen Abbas

The council argues that as the relief scheme is only due to operate until 2030 it risks being a large waste of money. More should be invested in preventing leaks.

But it also fears that in certain circumstances the pipeline could be in place indefinitely.

It also opposes the disruption to the village from the 33-week construction. “This could then be followed by an indeterminant number of further construction periods as the temporary infrastructure is repeatedly erected and removed.”

SEE MORE: Southern Water applies for permission for 8.1km pipeline

There are concerns about road closures, dangerous heavy plant movement, noise and dust during construction and low level, but continuous noise from electric pumps during 24-hour operation.

It raised the issue of damage to the Candover Stream eco-system: “The Candover Valley and the villages of Northington, Swarraton and Totford are beautiful areas.  Such a proposed development will significantly degrade this to the detriment of all residents and visitors.”

The parish council also argues the scheme "will severely risk the delicate infrastructure of the chalk streams.  Pumping millions of litres of water from the valley will lower the water table, potentially putting private water boreholes and those dependent residences and businesses at risk.

SEE ALSO: UK to be under severe water stress by 2030

“The environmentalists Sir David Attenborough and Chris Packham have reminded us yet again that the UK is one of the countries in the world most depleted of animal and plant species and their habitats.  The Candover Drought Order Scheme (says) ‘the scheme is not expected to have any significant impacts beyond the local level on sensitive ecological feature’.  It is this very local level of impact on an ecosystem of worldwide significance that we are concerned about.

“Northington Parish Council feels strongly that this proposal has been made based primarily upon Southern Water’s need to meet its statutory obligations irrespective of cost or inconvenience.

“They have failed to make adequate earlier plans for water provision and Northington is now expected to pay the price for their lack of action.“We therefore strongly urge Southern Water to invest the huge sum of money that this temporary scheme will cost in fixing its leaky infrastructure and hastening its permanent water supply solutions.  These long-term solutions include the Havant Thicket Reservoir and the associated water recycling plan.”

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Southern Water says the scheme would be able to pump a maximum of 27 million litres of water a day.

The company applied for a pipeline in 2020 with most of its above the surface but withdraw the plan after widespread objections.

Planning applications to the county council and South Downs National Park were, as reported, submitted in February.