Cheddar Reservoir

History

The reservoir was built by Sir Robert McAlpine and completed in 1937. It was the first British reservoir to permit sailing.

Description

The reservoir has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Ref No:1003948) due to its wintering waterfowl populations. Two car parks give access to the reservoir; one is at the Axbridge end, and on the eastern side, accessible from Cheddar. Two water towers are present, one at the Cheddar end, and one at the Axbridge end. Bristol Corinthians sailing club is situated at its northern end. Other recreational activities at the reservoir include windsurfing, angling (for pike, tench, roach, perch and eels), and birdwatching.

Bird life

The reservoir, which has an area of 105.4 ha, is attractive to waterbirds, in particular wintering wildfowl and gulls.

Wildfowl present regularly in winter include mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), gadwall (Anas strepera), tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), common pochard (Aythya ferina), Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and goosander (Mergus merganser). A large flock of coot (Fulica atra) is present, and great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) are also numerous.

Because of its proximity to the Bristol Channel, storm-blown seabirds are occasionally found here, including shag, grey phalarope, divers and grebes.

A moderately sized gull roost has attracted glaucous, Iceland and ring-billed gulls on multiple occasions.

A number of rare and scarce vagrant birds have been seen at Cheddar Reservoir, mainly waterfowl and shorebirds. Up to 2004 the following species had occurred:

Proposals for a second reservoir

Bristol Water has long identified Cheddar as the site for a new reservoir. In 2007 it announced that the new reservoir would be one of the options considered in its Draft 2009 Water Resources Plan. The new reservoir would hold 600,000 cubic meters, roughly the same size as the existing reservoir, which it would be based alongside.

In October 2012 survey work started on the new reservoir to the south of the existing one, with a planning application scheduled for December 2013.

In 2018 it was announced that the plans for the second reservoir had been scrapped.

References

References

1. "A portrait of achievement". Sir Robert McAlpine.
2. "Cheddar Reservoir Introduction". Bristol Water.
3. link. (May 24, 2011)
4. Ballance, David K.. (2006-06-01). "A History of the Birds of Somerset". Isabelline Books.
5. (April 2004). "Water Resources Plan". Bristol Water.
6. (October 2007). "Strategic Environmental Assessment of Bristol Water's Draft Water Resources Plan — Scoping Report". Entec.
7. (8 October 2012). "Cheddar reservoir surveying work begins". BBC News.
8. "The Project". Bristol Water.
9. (12 April 2018). "Bristol Water scraps plans for new £100million reservoir". Bristol Live.
10. (12 April 2018). "Plans to build new reservoir as part of Cheddar Two project won't go ahead, Bristol Water says". Somerset Live.