Public inquiry into our draft Water Resources Management Plan

In August 2009 Defra called for a public inquiry into our draft Water Resources Management Plan.

We consider that we have produced a robust and sustainable plan, and balanced the sometimes conflicting requirements of our economic and environmental regulators in the best interests of our customers and the environment. However, we do recognise that the plan raises a number of important issues, which will be examined at the public inquiry.

The inquiry will start on Tuesday 15 June 2010 and will run for up to five weeks. Those groups who have made representations on the draft plan will be invited to attend the inquiry, and other parties with an interest may also attend. The inquiry will be held at the Conference Centre in Oxford: Cantay House, Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1JD.

We invited further representations to be made on our revised draft plan (published in September 2009) from stakeholders who had not previously made a submission. All representations were required to be made to Defra and this additional consultation concluded on 19 January 2009. Defra also wrote to all stakeholders who had previously submitted representations, asking whether they wished to make further comments. These additional representations will be considered by Thames Water.

On 18 May 2010, parties involved in the public inquiry published Proofs of Evidence. In total 20 parties, including ourselves, submitted Proofs of Evidence. We have reviewed these and published our Rebuttal Proofs on 2 June. 

Letters from Defra

Defra decided to call an inquiry for the reasons stated in the letter below, dated 3 August 2009.

 Defra letter - Notification of public inquiry (0.03Mb)

Defra sets out the timeframe for the inquiry in the letter below, dated 8 December 2009.

 Defra letter - Inquiry timeframe (0.03Mb)

Further details on the arrangements for the inquiry are provided by the independent Programme Officer on Defra's website.

 Defra website - Water Resource Management Plan inquiry

As further details of the inquiry are confirmed, we will continue to ensure our customers and stakeholders are kept informed.

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