The remoteness and calm at the site of one of the triumphs of Victorian civil engineering disguise a moment of turmoil
Exactly 130 years ago, the foundation stone was laid for Britain's first large masonry dam. It was to block the river Vyrnwy in order to create a reservoir of drinking water for Liverpool and, along the way, although it engulfed the original village of Llanwyddn ? two chapels, 10 farms and 37 houses ? it created one of the great sights of mid-Wales. The dam, 350m long, 26m high and 36.5m thick at the base, is a triumph of Victorian civil engineering. Over time, however, the natural beauty of the valley has embraced the lake so that it seems to have been there for ever. But its remoteness and calm disguises a moment of turmoil. Ownership of the lake and the surrounding catchment area has followed the pattern of other assets that once belonged to public utilities. In 1989 it was sold off to Severn Trent Water, and while the other great local reservoir, in Elan Valley, was acquired by a specially established trust, the people who live and farm around Lake Vyrnwy feel they have missed out on investment and complain of poorly maintained roads and untenanted houses. So when, more than a year ago, it was announced that the huge estate ? 12,000 acres of farmland, managed jointly with the Welsh RSPB, and another 5,000 acres of forestry ? was to be sold, it seemed possible that there would be a second chance. Alas, it now seems likely that another utilities company will acquire the land. A meeting on Monday will call for an inquiry. There is a three-month consultation period. The fight is on.
Source: http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/~r/theguardian/commentisfree/rss/~3/AAFZnbqzgbc/in-praise-of-lake-vyrnwy
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