Originally published in the Guardian on 19 May 1973
The future of a desolate valley near the Scottish border will present Mr Rippon, Secretary for the Environment, with a particularly searching environmental choice next month. He has to decide whether a nine-mile stretch of the North Tyne valley should be flooded to create Britain's biggest man-made lake, covering nearly 3,000 acres ? almost the size of Windermere ? to meet the future water needs of the North-east.
The problem is right in his sprawling Hexham constituency. In January, Mr Rippon successfully calmed the sensitive part of his constituency, and placated a vocal pressure group campaigning against the reservoir, led by the former Hexham MP, Sir Rupert Spier, by deferring a decision on the scheme until more evidence was provided about an alternative site conveniently over the constituency borders.
An inspector, who conducted a six-week public inquiry into the reservoir plan more than a year ago, concluded that need for the reservoir, to be known as Kielder Water, far out-weighed objections, although the alternative site in the Irthing Valley was a second best. So now the inquiry will be reopened on June 19 to hear the extra evidence from the Northumbrian River Authority, the scheme's planners. Mr Rippon has promised a quick decision after the hearing closes.
Critics complain that January's delay could lead to a serious water shortage in the region, with all water resources fully committed by 1978 and nothing left to meet the needs of new industry. Any more hesitancy by Mr Rippon could actively discourage industry coming to the North-east.
The river authority says that if Mr Rippon gives a favourable decision, work on Kielder could begin next spring. It has probably spent �750,000 on advance works, such as consultants' fees and test borings, and appointed public relations consultants to publicise the Kielder scheme. The authority is far from happy with the slender time limit given by Mr Rippon for the preparation of new evidence on the Irthing site. Mr Rippon, in fact, can only approve or reject Kielder, which involves the large reservoir, yielding 198 million gallons daily through "regulation" of the North Tyne, plus an aqueduct, mainly in tunnel, to transfer part of the water to industrial Wearside and Teesside. Total cost, at 1989 prices, is �27 millions ; �18 millions for the aqueduct alone.
Peter Hetherington
[The plans were approved and construction completed in 1981, although it took two years for the reservoir to completely fill with water.]
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/may/19/archive-rippon-on-tap-for-problem-1973
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