Cardiff Council Leader Cllr Rodney Berman and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells today expressed their anger, over the action taken by Western Power Distribution to drain Llanishen Reservoir.
WPD began draining the reservoir for maintenance checks at the beginning of the month and it is estimated that it could take up to eight years for the reservoir to refill once it has been emptied causing massive disruption to the sailing centre.
The works are being undertaken despite the fact the Council has just secured another lease for the popular Llanishen
Sailing Centre to continue operating.
Cllr Berman, said: “With the Council just securing a new lease on the reservoir, it’s exasperating to hear that
Western Power Distribution has decided to drain Llanishen reservoir, particularly as the new lease would have extended the Sailing Centre’s operations at the reservoir. Its frustrating because once the reservoir is emptied it will
take a number of years to refill, as it can only be filled by rainfall landing on the reservoir.”
He added “I understand that safety surveys need to take place at the reservoir, and we, the Council fully support the
carrying out of essential checks, I am just concerned that the complete draining of the reservoir will have such a
detrimental impact on sailing at this location for some time.”
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells also raised his concerns about the future of the
Sailing Centre based at the reservoir, he said “The Llanishen Sailing Centre is a very popular site, and we were delighted to have finally come to an agreement with Western Power Distribution over the lease of the reservoir. It’s
frustrating to hear that the reservoir is being drained, thus causing massive disruption to the centre.
“I will be working closely with the Sailing Centre staff and its users to try to ensure that similar sailing activities
are made available at other locations whilst the work by Western Power Distribution takes place.”
