Danger that green ‘sanctuary’ reservoir space will be lost for ever

Published: 21 October, 2010

• YOUR article (Time for reservoir digs? October 14) highlights the constant threat from developers to the reservoir site in West Hampstead. 

Here is a site that, with the exception of some grass tennis courts before the war, has been an undisturbed green open space since 1874 and remains so today, affording the wild life that thrive there an undisturbed sanctuary.   

It also gives the local community a feeling of space with its wonderful views across the meadow towards Hampstead and beyond. It is worth remembering as taxpayers that, on privatisation, this site with others was handed over to the Thames Water authority along with a £1billion grant of public money for the betterment of the water system and environment. The community is now threatened with a project that will add further stress in an area already pressurised for service.  

All the local political parties, in conjunction with the local council and the local community, are opposed to any development on the reservoir site. 

The principal issue is, that as soon as any building takes place, the site is no longer a green open space or a safe haven for the wild life that thrives there. The biodiversity aspect will disappear and the site that has the designation of a “site of nature conservation interest” will be lost for ever and we all will be the poorer.

HUGH MCCORMICK,
NW6