Cambridge Independent, 4th August 2025
Securing Our Future: How East Cambridgeshire Is Building Water Resilience for the Fens
In East Cambridgeshire, water is both our greatest asset and our greatest risk. Nestled in the heart of the Fens, our district has long depended on a finely balanced system of dykes, drains and pumping stations to manage the delicate relationship between land and water. But with the climate changing rapidly, that balance is under threat.
Sea levels are rising. Rainfall is becoming more intense and unpredictable. Droughts are lasting longer. The very drainage systems that have supported our agricultural landscape for generations are now under growing pressure. That’s why East Cambridgeshire District Council is leading the way with a bold, practical proposal: a network of locally built and managed agricultural reservoirs to increase water security and climate resilience across our district.
This initiative is not about growth for growth’s sake. It’s about protecting what we already have - our farmland, our communities, and our local environment. The idea is simple: capture and store excess water during the wet winter months, when it’s often pumped away to sea, and hold it in mid-sized reservoirs that can be used when water is most needed - especially in the dry summers. This stored water could be used for farming, biodiversity enhancement, and even public supply in the future through the trading of water.
East Cambridgeshire already has a strong foundation to build from. More than 80 agricultural reservoirs are already in place across the district and our planning team is well used to supporting applications for reservoirs through the planning process. Many of the existing reservoirs are fully licensed and well integrated into our local drainage network. With additional support, several could be adapted or expanded to play a broader role in our water system - helping us prepare for drought, reduce the risk of flooding, and increase the reliability of local supply.
The benefits of this approach are clear. A local reservoir network is faster and cheaper to deliver than large-scale national infrastructure. While major projects like the proposed Chatteris reservoir may take over a decade, a network of mid-sized reservoirs could be up and running in just a few years. At an estimated cost of £2-3 million per reservoir, it’s also far more affordable, with significant returns in terms of water resilience, climate adaptation, and environmental benefit.
What’s more, this system makes smart use of the existing drainage infrastructure managed by our Internal Drainage Boards. By storing water at key points in the catchment, we can reduce pressure during floods, ease the burden on pumping stations, and support a healthier hydrological cycle across the Fens. It also offers opportunities to enhance wetland habitats and restore lost biodiversity - all while improving our carbon footprint.
But none of this can happen without a shift in how we think about water. Currently, the national regulatory system does not make it easy for local solutions to thrive. Local authorities like ours are largely excluded from key decisions around water infrastructure and investment. We’re calling for a new model - one that gives councils and communities a stronger voice in shaping the systems that directly affect them.
East Cambridgeshire is ready to be a national pilot for change. We believe that rural areas like ours have a vital role to play in building a more resilient, sustainable water future for the UK.
Our approach puts local knowledge, natural systems, and long-term stewardship at the heart of water management.
Climate change is already shaping our landscape. The question is how we respond. In East Cambridgeshire, we are choosing to act - not with delay or denial, but with practical, local action that protects the land, homes, and lives that depend on it.
Anna Bailey
East Cambs District Council, Member for the Downham Ward
Leader of the Council
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Chairman of East Cambs Community Land Trust
Deputy Chair Political of Ely & East Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
