THE growing demand on water supplies in Kent has revived plans for a huge reservoir at Broad Oak.

South East Water says it is becoming increasingly necessary to flood 500 acres of farmland because of the massive house building programme in the county.

The £200 million reservoir, in the valley between Broad Oak and Blean, would be nearly two miles long and half-a-mile wide and produce up to 27 million litres of water a day.

The scheme was on the drawing board as far back as 1974 when it prompted considerable local objection, particularly from environmentalists.

But South East Water says the demand to supply the thousands of new homes being built over the next 20 years is forcing it to reconsider the proposal.

It is now about to launch a public consultation of the proposals which will include a number of local public meetings.

*Full story and reaction in this Thursday's Kentish Gazette.