Ref. 28702-04FEARS are growing that the River Thames near Swindon is losing water at an alarming rate.

Members of the Upper Thames Protection Society have now called a public meeting in Cricklade, the first town on the river.

The group is worried about the depletion of water levels due to increasing consumption and the effect of weather conditions, which could lead to a drought.

It also believes that plans by British Waterways to restore the Thames and Severn Canal, as well as the North Wilts Canal which links Swindon to Cricklade, could damage the Thames.

Speakers from British Water-ways, the Environment Agency and Thames Water, which supplies the Swindon area, will be addressing the meeting.

Seymour Aitken, chairman of the society, said: "In terms of the environment and our heritage, the Upper Thames is important nationally and internationally.

"The last thing we want is for it to be prejudiced by the development of canals which not only takes its water, but affects recreation activities on the banks of the river such as fishing."

Thames Water was given permission to take water from the River Thames at Farmoor, west of Oxford, to refill the reservoir there, which had depleted water levels after one of the driest autumns ever.

During the summer, the river was dry from its source near Kemble to Cricklade and the water basin at Ashton Keynes was waterless for two months.

Mr Aitken said: "Our idea is to make people aware of the problems associated with water flow and water storage

"We draw water from supplies found under the soil but the sources are not benefiting from the fast flowing water from floods in the winter because it runs off too quickly so the source is not refilled.

"Once these levels are depleted, it is going to restrict possible water supply in the future. With Swindon developing so quickly, we have to look at the potential problems. We are not against canals, we just want to see a balance."

The meeting takes place on Tuesday January 27 at 7.30pm in Cricklade Town Hall.

Bhavani Vadde