Sir, If permitted, Thames Water's proposed new dual function reservoir, about one kilometre away from the A338 in the flat country between East Hanney and Drayton, would be one of the largest in the UK. The site would cover about ten square kilometres, the reservoir's 150 cubic metres of water being contained by high banks constructed from the excavated earth. Thames Water's exhibition in East Hanney explained that most of the water would supply London -280m litres per day and 60m litres per day for Swindon and Oxfordshire.

Why should Oxfordshire countryside, people's homes and amenity be sacrificed in order to supply planned housing increases in London?

Will this vast stretch of water create local micro-climates, pose a threat of flooding, generate flies - particularly during construction - and cause local upheaval for at least eight years?

Before further consideration of this proposal surely people could curb their water use and Thames Water should mend leaks in water mains, especially in London. The Government should end its policy of developing the South East.

The unelected, unaccountable South East England Regional Assembly, which decides housing numbers for the South East, including Oxfordshire, should be abolished. This would provide Seera's chairman, the Conservative county council leader Keith Mitchell with the opportunity to "stand up" unambiguously for local people.

As unasked for urbanisation of Oxfordshire's countryside this reservoir proposal needs unambiguous opposition. The end of centralised Government planning, a return to fully accountable local democracy, could stop this monster pond.

Jacqueline A. C. Jones (Mrs), UK Independence Party local government spokesman for Oxfordshire, Cumnor