Notice

Yorkshire Water Services Limited: application made to impound water

Published 13 February 2020

This notice was withdrawn on 22 June 2020

The consultation period for this application has ended. You can view current licences on the Public Registers.

Applies to England

Details of the application

Yorkshire Water Services Limited (YW) has applied to the Environment Agency for a licence.

The Environment Agency is giving notice of this application in accordance with Section 37 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Regulation 6 of the Water Resources (Abstraction and Impounding) Regulations 2006.

The application is for an impoundment licence to allow YW to vary the release of water (compensation flow) from their Holme Styes reservoir at National Grid Reference SE 13 05 following flow trials carried out by YW since April 2004. The purpose of the flow trials was to secure appropriate flow regimes for the River Ribble as a result of Water Framework Directive requirements.

The release of water from the above reservoir to the River Ribble including gauging and rights for millowners is specified in sections 30, 31, and 38-45 of the Batley Corporation Waterworks Act 1871 amended in sections 41, 42 and 43 of the Huddersfield Corporation Act 1937 (“1937 Act”). YW have applied to revoke the above listed sections of Acts including 15 and 16 of the Batley Corporation Act 1921 in so far as they relate to Holme Styes Reservoir. They have also applied to revoke Section XXIV of the Holme Reservoir Act 1837, which authorised the construction of the above reservoir. The details currently controlled in those sections of the acts are either no longer considered to be required or would be controlled by the impoundment licence.

The 1937 Act sets the compensation requirements as follows:

(a) A quantity of water (including any water leaking past or through the embankment or flowing over the bywash of that reservoir) of not less than 19,266 gallons (0.088 megalitres (ML)) during each working hour throughout the winter months

(b) A quantity of water (including any water leaking past or through the embankment or flowing over the bywash of that reservoir) of not less than 22,797 gallons (0.104 ML) during each hour throughout the summer months

(c) Provided that James Watkinson and Sons Limited whose Washpit Mills are situated on the River Ribble below the embankment of the Holme Styes Reservoir and their successors (occupiers for the time being of the said Mills) may at any time during the summer months by forty-eight hours’ notice in writing to the Holmfirth Council (YW predecessor) require the Holmfirth Council to discharge or allow to flow in manner aforesaid an additional quantity of water of 3,109 gallons (0.014 ML) during each working hour on such days as may be specified in such notice and the Holmfirth Council shall discharge or allow to flow the said additional quantity of water in accordance with the requirements of such notice unless in the opinion of the Holmfirth Council by so doing the supply of water for domestic purposes to such parts of the urban districts of Holmfirth and New Mill as are or can be supplied with water from the Greave Reservoir belonging to the Holmfirth Council would be prejudiced.

YW are proposing to vary the compensation flow from the reservoir as follows:

• To release 4 ML of water per day (November to January) and 1.98 ML per day (February to October).
• If the reservoir stocks fall below 37% during November to January, the compensation flow will be reduced to 1.98 ML per day to conserve stocks.

How to view the application

You can view the application and supporting documents, during normal office hours at the Environment Agency:

Lateral
8 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9AT

You can view a summary of the application, during normal office hours, on the Public Register at:

Lateral
8 City Walk
Leeds
LS11 9AT

How to comment on the application

Send any representation about this application in writing, quoting the name of the applicant and reference number NPS/WR/032751 to the Environment Agency at:

Permitting and Support Centre
Water Resources Team
Quadrant 2
99 Parkway Avenue
Sheffield
S9 4WF

Or by email to: PSC-WaterResources@environment-agency.gov.uk

By 12 March 2020.

For advice about how to make a representation call 03708 506 506.