welsh victorian reservoir wales reservoir constructed scheme supplying water cardiff completed forms countryside reservoir water supply mid-1970s redundant leisure activities topping adjacent drained completely buying new owner proposed reservoir site series objections national governing bodies local residents local national politicians blocked august sold january acquired year lease allows use water supply recreational purposes allowing continue water supply reservoir history report commissioned water resources reasonable distance cardiff report concluded scheme town requirements cost decided create construction reservoir started engineer completed reservoir retained earth filled embankment clay core metres high metres long external embankment face whilst internal face stone pitching upper concrete lower maximum surface area water hectares acres capacity cubic metres reservoir formation lower age glacial till deposits age form northern shore reservoir reservoir northern limb reservoir transferred formed supplied water mid-1970s welsh water holding company renamed group acquired share price collapsed sold terms recommended competitive hostile takeover battle american owned electricity distribution network operator south members concerned takeover mean jobs transferred bristol effect consumers interests environment wider economy acquired reservoir acquired profit organisation reservoir sold subsidiary later renamed reservoir forms corridor redundant 1970s leisure purposes topping adjacent protection reservoir listed common breed grassland surrounding reservoir grass snakes slow worms banks reservoir listed diversity fungi discovered growing appealed listing stating decision premature unfair january high court judge upheld designation said important site reservoir listed july building special architectural historic interest despite appeal listing leisure spring operated reservoir offering sailing courses centre owned managed running reservoir years relocate continue operating drain centre gained national recognition grass roots training centre onboard scheme class race training centre club centre produced class sailors years reservoir popular cardiff fly fishing club fishing reservoir stopped activities curtailed security fence constructed banks reservoir site boundary people walk inner outer fences number natural man gaps outer fence natural site monitored gaps proposed redevelopment proposed redevelopment latest proposal new homes surrounding reduced water area connected wetland area new sailing club wildlife education centre proposal recommended rejected environment minister requested judicial review decision minister withdrew defence considering submission court referred decision minister decision awaited march work started drain legal limit metres water reservoir nearby stream drain required result statutory inspection carried disagreed drainage opposed opponents redevelopment claim reservoir years totally emptied public considered requirement drain ecological effects detail drain planning inspector concluded opponents suspicions fully considering lot evidence inspector concluded content development proceed significant ecological benefits result development applied discharge licence order completely drain reservoir granted july issue taken stated independent report advising explained draining reservoir create new risks reservoir safety evans predecessor previously taken issue saving reservoir site parliament garnered support politicians welsh secretary later leader labour_party visited site general election campaign commenting site march applied planning permission road listed building consent alter structure reservoir called appeal number changes original appeal submitted accepted parties appeal heard summer april refused planning appeal homes august bought owner assure cardiff rod mill plant consistent supply water january acquired year lease campaign development site led welcomed hoped site reopened public future
Llanishen Reservoir