Alok Sharma reacts to Thames Water’s latest planning application for 96 dwellings and the conversion of the water tower on the Bath Road Reservoir site.

Reacting to Thames Water’s latest planning application for 96 dwellings and the conversion of the water tower on the Bath Road Reservoir site Alok Sharma, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West, said: “It is extremely disappointing that despite members of the Bath Road Reservoir Campaign Group and I meeting the Chief Executive of Thames Water in recent weeks to once again highlight the views, wishes and concerns of local residents this planning application is materially no different from Thames Water’s previous planning application.”

Alok continued: “I really do think it is pretty unacceptable for Thames Water to say that they have taken into account the concerns of local residents when local residents clearly do not feel that their voices have been heard. Thames Water ran a detailed public consultation process which now appears to have been nothing more than a hollow public relations exercise.”

Alok concluded: “Together with local residents and the Bath Road Reservoir campaign group I will continue to fight this planning application all the way and when it comes to making its decision on this planning application I hope Reading Borough Council will come down on the side of local people and not Thames Water.