Herefordshire Council backs farm reservoir push

Herefordshire farmers battling planning red tape and water shortages have won unanimous council backing for moves to make building reservoirs easier.

Councillors of all parties agreed a motion asking the council’s Executive to look at ways of supporting new on-farm infrastructure, helping businesses adapt to climate change, manage water and protect food security.

See also: Farmer Focus: Drought focuses minds on water resilience

It follows a series of NFU on-farm events in September, where councillors saw the barriers to growth at first hand.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ed O’Driscoll tabled the motion on 9 October, seconded by fellow Lib Dem councillor Kevin Tillet and backed by council colleagues.

Mr O’Driscoll said the aim was to tackle “significant costs, delays and bureaucracy” facing farmers investing in storage.

“Our farmers put food on our tables,” he said. “We need to do everything we reasonably can to help them secure the water they need.”

The motion asks the Executive to convene a Herefordshire Agricultural Water Security Roundtable, bringing together farmers, the NFU, the Country Land and Business Association, Herefordshire Rural Hub, the Environment Agency, water companies and relevant council services.

It also calls for a review of recent reservoir applications to pinpoint unnecessary costs, delays and complexity.

The Executive is asked to explore a clearly signposted farm-reservoir planning pathway, and ways to cut financial barriers, including grants and earlier planning advice.

The motion acknowledged the “significant challenges” farmers faced after this summer’s extreme heat and dry weather, and said cost and complexity can be “significant barriers” to on-farm water storage.

‘Positive step’ – NFU

NFU Herefordshire county adviser Catherine Hinds said growers were pleased to see cross-party support.

“Water remains vital for us all and for food production – this is a positive step,” she said. “We look forward to the council’s findings and further discussion that will make a difference on our farms.”

NFU Herefordshire chairman Will Watkins, a potato farmer from Kingstone, called it a motion of good intent.

He warned water supply is “increasingly threatened by growing competition for water, severe weather events, and ageing and inadequate infrastructure”.

“Water availability is becoming a binding constraint on our farmers and growers,” he said.

While public water supply benefits from strategic planning, “agriculture does not”, he added.

Local growers have responded by forming the Herefordshire Water Abstraction Group.

“With the right strategic support from both national and local government, the farming industry can build new infrastructure, adapt to changing climate, and effectively manage finite water resources,” Mr Watkins said.

The motion also asks that water resilience informs the emerging Herefordshire Local Plan.

Findings and recommendations are due to go to full council by 5 March 2027, including local actions and changes needing government or regulator backing.

The NFU is also calling for:

• Formal recognition of the Herefordshire Water Abstraction Group
• Joined-up catchment policy aligning flood mitigation, farm resilience and nature recovery
• Reduced financial burden in the planning process
• Faster handling of reservoir applications