Abingdon Reservoir judicial review dismissed by High Court
They were challenging Environment Secretary Steve Reed's decision to approve the water company's Water Resource Management Plan, which includes the new 4.5 sq mile (7 sq km) reservoir.
Thames Water intends to submit an application to construct and maintain the reservoir next year. If that is granted, it hopes to start building in 2029 with the reservoir operational from 2040.The water would supply customers in Oxfordshire and others in London and the South East, Thames Water said. It said it would "provide opportunities to create new habitats and increase biodiversity, as well as providing new leisure and recreation facilities". Derek Stork, a director of Safer Waters, previously said the project was "a scandalous misuse of public money". Lisa Warne, director of CPRE Oxfordshire, had called on the government to "prioritise leakage reduction, water reuse, and efficiency, not this vanity reservoir".It was designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project in June.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
19 minutes ago
- Sky News
FCA considering compensation scheme over car finance scandal - raising hopes of payouts for motorists
Thousands of motorists who bought cars on finance before 2021 could be set for payouts as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said it will consult on a compensation scheme. In a statement released on Sunday, the FCA said its review of the past use of motor finance "has shown that many firms were not complying with the law or our disclosure rules that were in force when they sold loans to consumers". "Where consumers have lost out, they should be appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way," the statement continued. The consultation will be published by early October and any scheme will be finalised in time for people to start receiving compensation next year. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
Daily Mail
19 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Four-star migrant hotel covers up Hilton branding after protesters targeted previous buildings
A four-star migrant hotel has covered up its Hilton branding after protesters targeted similar buildings. The DoubleTree by Hilton in Cranford, west London, closed itself off to its traditional clientele of tourists and business travellers in November after admitting a host of all-male migrants. Concerns were raised at the time about the hotel's close proximity to several schools. And bosses have now got rid of any sign that the DoubleTree was ever open to guests, obscuring several branded notices. Eerie pictures have shown grey boards covering signs which would have advertised the establishment to paying visitors in days gone by. Another attempt to banish the hotel's former identity saw a huge tarpaulin draped over a logo at the top of the building. Various signs across the car park and the establishment's entrance have now become just blank spaces. Rooms at DoubleTree hotels in the surrounding area cost between £91 and £260 a night. Photos from the west London building from last year show the establishment's luxury, including lush rooms and state-of-the-art facilities including a gym and restaurant. It is not clear whether migrants have access to these on-site perks. People attempting to book a room at the Cranford hotel online are greeted by a message saying that it is not available 'for those dates'. Many locals, including those of Asian descent, have panned the decision to move asylum seekers into the DoubleTree without prior warning. The hotel is leased by the Home Office through Clearsprings Ready Homes, whose boss Graham King has a whopping net worth of £750million and is known as the 'Asylum King'. The Daily Mail has approached Hilton for comment. It comes after asylum seekers appeared to have moved into glitzy four-star Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, London under the cover of darkness. A coach full of suspected migrants was seen arriving at the establishment at around 1.40am on Saturday morning. Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the Government intends to use the hotel - which has around 500 rooms - for asylum seekers in a move that has angered anti-migrant protesters and guests whose bookings have been cancelled. Footage of the passengers getting off the coach showed they were all men, with the vast majority dressed in matching grey tracksuit tops and bottoms. They were helped by masked security guards, some of whom appeared to be wearing body cameras. Last week, workers were seen hauling beds and mattresses into the hotel in preparation for the arrival of 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. A barricade of metal fencing was placed around the hotel by the Metropolitan Police after anti-migrant demonstrators protested the plan for immigrants to be housed there. Met Police officers were called to the Britannia International Hotel last week amid warnings the 'discontent is real' in Britain. Footage on social media shows eggs were thrown, while a police helicopter was circling above as officers on the ground blocked the entrance to the hotel which has more than 500 rooms and is located on the waterfront of the South Dock. The Canary Wharf protest did not reach the violence seen in Epping, with YouTuber-types making up a large proportion of the crowd in preparation for any tension. Bosses have now got rid of any sign that the DoubleTree was ever open to guests, obscuring several branded notices The hotel pictured in a wider shot, with many signs now removed and a sheet covering the main bit of branding at the top However, there were still dozens of protesters - some wearing masks and others draped in St George's flags. One placard said: 'This is a peaceful protest to protect our own.' Counter-protesters also gathered outside the scene - and in one clip appeared to be escorted away from the hotel by police as protesters followed behind. Furious hotel guests have left damning reviews online, claiming they were told their stays were 'cancelled'. While guests claimed they were not given a reason for the cancellations, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed: 'We are aware of the Government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. 'It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.' A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'Since this Government took office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system, removing more than 35,000 people with no right to be here in our first year. 'From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9million a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament. People attempting to book a room at the Cranford hotel, pictured in a general view shot, online are greeted by a message saying that it is not available 'for those dates' 'We will continue to work closely with community partners across the country, and discuss any concerns they have, as we look to fix this broken system together. 'In the interim, the security of the local communities within which hotels are located will always be our first priority.' Protests have broken out across the country this summer, with more than 150 gathering outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk last week after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men. Trouble first broke out in Epping two weeks ago after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town by attempting to kiss her. He denies the charges. The protest started peacefully, but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter protesters and police.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Warning to savers missing out on £100s ahead of key Bank of England decision – it takes minutes to fix
A WARNING has been issued to savers missing out on hundreds of pounds ahead of a key Bank of England (BoE) decision this week. People risk the cash blow because they're leaving money in low-paying easy access accounts. The latest data from reveals someone with £10,000 in savings could earn an extra £300 by switching to an account with a higher interest rate. Adam French, from the comparison site, said savers were in danger of their hard-earned cash "languishing" by making the mistake. 'Simply switching a £10,000 savings pot away from a high street bank's easy access account to a market-leading one-year fix can leave you £300 better off in 12 months' time. "Not a bad return for a few minutes' work, if you aren't going to need access to the money sooner." The warning comes ahead of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Thursday (August 7) where it will decide what to do with the base rate. The base rate is charged to high street banks and other lenders and usually reflected in savings and mortgage rates. Any fall is good news for mortgage holders who tend to see rates plummet, but it spells bad news for those with savings accounts. The bank is widely expected to cut the base rate, which currently sits at 4.25%. The MPC, made up of nine members, last met in June when it decided to keep interest rates unchanged. Six members voted to keep rates at the existing level while three members voted for a cut to 4%. What is the Bank of England base rate and how does it affect me? The BoE uses the base rate to control inflation, with a hike designed to discourage spending and keep prices in check. The current Consumer Price Index (CPI) measure of inflation is 3.6%, over the BoE's 2% target. However, the MPC is under pressure to lower interest rates to get the stagnating economy growing. How to make your savings work harder You can't do anything to control what the BoE does with the base rate, but you can make your savings work harder. One way to do this is by locking your savings into a fixed-term account. These accounts pay out an interest rate for a set period of time, from anywhere between six months and five years. Fixed-rate savings accounts generally offer better interest rates in exchange for you not being to withdraw any cash. Just bear in mind you may have to pay a charge for any early withdrawals. Second, it's worth making the most of ISAs which allow you to save money without having to pay tax on any interest earned. You can spread a total of £20,000 across various ISA types including Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs. And of course, shop around for the best deals so you're not left with a low-paying savings account. Comparison sites like and can help you find the best account suited to you. How you can find the best savings rates If you are trying to find the best savings rate there are websites you can use that can show you the best rates available. Doing some research on websites such as MoneyFacts and price comparison sites including Compare the Market and Go Compare will quickly show you what's out there. These websites let you tailor your searches to an account type that suits you. There are three types of savings accounts fixed, easy access, and regular saver. A fixed-rate savings account offers some of the highest interest rates but comes at the cost of being unable to withdraw your cash within the agreed term. This means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you are unable to move your money and switch to a better account. Some providers give the option to withdraw but it comes with a hefty fee. An easy-access account does what it says on the tin and usually allow unlimited cash withdrawals. These accounts do tend to come with lower returns but are a good option if you want the freedom to move your money without being charged a penalty fee. Lastly is a regular saver account, these accounts generate decent returns but only on the basis that you pay a set amount in each month.
