New reservoir is essential for region - minister

The environment secretary has said a new reservoir being built in Suffolk is essential if the region is to "thrive" in the years ahead.

Steve Reed was at Rede near Bury St Edmunds on Thursday, where the storage reservoir and water pumping station is under construction.

The facility is part of a wider project to build a 350km-long pipeline (217 miles) connecting the region.

The Labour politician referred to the site as "incredible new infrastructure".

Anglian Water, which is behind the project, has said the East of England will run out of water in the next 10 years if the pipeline is not built.

The company has started its phase of building 71km of the pipeline (44 miles) between Bexwell near Downham Market in Norfolk, and Bury St Edmunds.

It will eventually join up with the other planned pipelines to north Lincolnshire and Essex.

The reservoir is expected to hold 20 million litres of water.

"We have to make sure there is enough water for domestic use and the economy to grow and for this region to prosper in the future," said Reed.

Reed was keen to say that the government had secured £104bn in investment for the water sector over the next five years.

Andy Alder, Anglian Water's managing director for major infrastructure delivery, said work had been ongoing through the winter on the reservoir and pumping stations at Rede, with pipe laying expected to happen throughout the year.

"The building of this pipeline, a huge infrastructure project, is really important to provide water supply for people now, and support growth in the region."

Work to lay pipes in the ground in north Lincolnshire has begun, with more works expected later in the year.

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