May 2013: Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011 - Consultation

The Scottish Government have issued a consultation document discussing their proposals for the necessary secondary legislation required to commence a number of sections of The Reservoirs (Scotland) Act 2011.  

Responses on the consultation are required by 26 July 2013.  

The consultation document can be accessed at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/04/5330

The latest proposed programme for commencement of the Act is also summarised in the consultation document.

April 2013: Reservoirs legislation commencement date - Update

The BDS has received the following email from Defra regarding the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 - reservoirs legislation commencement date.

You may be aware that commencement of amendments the Reservoirs Act 1975 by Schedule 4 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 did not happen on 6 April 2013 as envisaged previously.

The new programme is to implement the Phase 1 amendments of the Reservoirs Act 1975, which will apply only to those reservoirs that are currently regulated (that is with a capacity greater than 25,000 cubic metres), by the end of June 2013.  The Statutory Instruments that have to be debated by both Houses of Parliament were laid before Parliament on 26 March 2013, which makes this programme achievable.  Commencement will be earlier if Parliamentary processes permit.  

We will advise the firm commencement date once that is fixed.

Defra

January 2013: Small Raised Reservoirs - Survey of incidents and Accidents

Dear Member

The BDS would like to thank all those members who have responded to the request for infornation below.  The deadline for responses is 7th February and therefore we would like to encourage all those members who have details of incidents and accidents at small raised reservoirs to supply this information as soon as possible in order that it can be compiled and sent to Defra.

Many thanks

BDS Webmaster

Small Raised Reservoirs - Survey of incidents and Accidents

As you are aware the Flood and Water Management Act, 2010 proposes a risk based approach and also a suggestion, as recommended in the report by Sir Michael Pitt, that the threshold for reservoir capacity should change from 25,000m³ to 10,000m³ - the inclusion of what has become known as 'small raised reservoirs'.  There is now a danger that Phase II of the Act, which would bring in 'small raised reservoirs' may stall and not be commenced.

BDS has been asked to assemble evidence of incidents, accidents and the risks posed by 'small raised reservoirs' and thus we would ask that if you have any examples of incidents and accidents at 'small raised reservoirs' that you pass this information to the BDS. This information will be collated and passed onto Defra.

Basic information for each incident should be as follows: 

Example

Name of Reservoir: Banton

Location: Sheffield

Height of Dam (m): 5

Length of Dam (m): 300

Capacity (m3): 20,000

Date of Incident: 2012

Consequence of failure (description of what would be affected should the dam fail): housing and school immediately downstream

Do you wish to keep this information anonymous: Yes/No

It is important we get this information quickly to Defra to try to change their perception of the risk from ‘small raised reservoirs’.

Please send your data by the 7th February to: webmaster@britishdams.org

December 2012: Response from Mr Richard Benyon MP - 14th Nov 2012

The British Dam Society Chairmain, Martin Airey, recently wrote to the Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Mr Richard Benyon MP, voicing concern and frustration at what appears to be very slow progress with the changes to the Reservoirs Act 1975 which were proposed following the considered and evidenced report by Sir Michael Pitt.

Mr Richard Benyon MP replied to these concerns in a letter dated 14th November 2012. A copy of this letter can be seen here.

November 2012: BDS letter to Richard Benyon MP - Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries

The British Dam Society Chairmain, Martin Airey, recently wrote to the Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Mr Richard Benyon MP, voicing concern and frustration at what appears to be very slow progress with the changes to the Reservoirs Act 1975 which were proposed following the considered and evidenced report by Sir Michael Pitt.

A copy of this letter is available here.