Consulting engineer Atkins is drawing up detailed plans of the £30m project to extend and rebuild the existing Ambergate reservoir site.
The water company is going out to public consultation on the scheme and hopes to start engineering work in March 2013, so the new reservoir is ready for use in December 2017.
Currently Ambergate reservoir holds 128 million litres of water and is the tap supply for the East Midlands.
The present structure has been in use for more than 100 years and had deteriorated.
Duncan Wratten, Severn Trent’s project manager, said: “Options to refurbish the existing reservoir were taken into account, however following careful consideration it was agreed that a new reservoir would need to be constructed in order to continue the supply of quality water to Severn Trent’s customers.
“We understand that residents and businesses will have many questions and concerns about the construction of a new reservoir and this is why we have organised an open exhibition.
“The community will have the opportunity to discuss proposals in more detail with members of our team and provide feedback on the plans.”
History: Questions in Parliament
When the Ambergate reservoir was first built more than 100 years ago contractor Wright found its payment practices under scrutiny in Parliament.
Construction practices have changed since then but concerns of the local Stoke on Trent MP will still have a familiar ring to some old hands.
July 1908
MR. JOHN WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the contractors for the Ambergate reservoir, Messrs. Wright and Company, have during, the last two years deducted six pence per week front the wages of all workmen employed upon their works.
These deductions are alleged to be made for the supply of tools and medical attendance, without first obtaining agreement from the workmen. Has any audit of such accounts been made in accordancewith Clause 9 of The Truck Amendment Act, 1887? Has any report has been received upon the subject from the district factory inspector; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL,) Yorkshire, ClevelandThe enforcement of the provisions of the Truck Acts in this employment does not rest with the Home Department, but my right hon. friend made inquiry of the contractors, and I am informed by them that they have made a deduction of 1d. per working day for tools and medical attendance.
This deduction has been made by agreement with the workmen to whom the proposal was put at the outset, and who unanimously desired that the arrangement should be made.
It is stated that it is the invariable custom in this trade for the men to provide their own tools, and some could not be engaged at all if they were unable to obtain their tools in this way.
There has been no audit up to the present, the contractors stating that they were not aware an audit was required, but they are perfectly willing that the accounts should be audited.
Mr. JOHN WARD Do the Home Office propose to take proceedings against this firm for an infringement of the Truck Act?
MR. HERBERT SAMUEL The Home Office has no authority to do so.
