Wash Barrage

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 July 1967.

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Photo of Mr James MacColl Mr James MacColl , Widnes 12:00, 25 July 1967

The point is that if this was something vitally necessary, if it was proved that it could provide better water than we could get by other methods, then there is a case for saying that we must spend £1½ million to find out whether we can do it. As we start from the assumption that, even if it is successful, the costs will be very high indeed, the quality of the water almost certainly poorer, it is very difficult for a Government to justify spending that money until we have pushed ahead with the better schemes, and particularly the underground schemes.

The Water Resources Board made the same point, that the best and most hopeful way of saving agricultural land in the next 15 to 20 years was not with the barrage, but with the development of our ground water resources.