A UTILITIES firm has begun “testing the water” as part of a £103million plan to create a new reservoir next to Staunton Country Park.

Portsmouth Water showed off its latest vision for the Havant Thicket Reservoir to people in Rowlands Castle on November 18.

It hailed the “really positive” response with more than 80 people visiting the exhibition in St John’s Church Hall within the first 90 minutes.

The exhibition coincides with the start of drilling and exploratory work on the site by construction engineering firm Socotec.

Some 34 holes of varying diameters and depth will be created so experts can investigate clay and soil samples and measure groundwater levels.

“We’re drilling and looking at the ground water and people can see things are actually happening,” said Ian Limb, head of HR at Portsmouth Water.

“It’s been really good timing because we didn’t want people to come here without a full explanation of what’s going on.

“Today has been really positive from the local residents.

“I think traffic has been a concern, especially with 3,000 to 5,000 people visiting the site, but we try to reassure them.

“We’ve got to make sure this scheme is absolutely correct before we start and that everyone is near enough happy.”

The laying of a pipeline between the reservoir and the firm’s Bedhampton plant could cause some disruption around Leigh Park, with a route along Riders Lane and Hermitage Stream being the preferred option.

Another concern is the potential loss of a strip of ancient woodland called The Avenue, which runs in a north-east direction from Staunton Country Park to Havant Thicket.

Mr Limb added: “There is ancient woodland right in the middle of that will disappear but what we are trying to do is mitigate that.

“The key thing is to have a net benefit to the environment.”

New woodlands and hedgerows, wildflower planting and the creation of a large wetland are all part of the plans.

The scheme will not cost Portsmouth Water customers a penny as it’s intended to relieve pressure on Southern Water supplies, especially as it looks to reduce its dependence on the Test and Itchen rivers.

A planning application could be submitted to Havant Borough Council next September if everything goes to plan, with building work possibly starting in 2023.