RESIDENTS in Belbroughton have been given their first glimpse of proposals to build a multi-million pound new water supply line for Birmingham.

Severn Trent Water is holding initial public exhibitions to explain the proposed new pipeline linking an abstraction site on the River Severn near Stourport to the Frankley Water Treatment Works in Birmingham, while work is carried out on an existing facility.

The planned line will pass through a number of areas in between and feedback received from visitors to the exhibitions will be considered as Severn Trent develops its preferred option.

Residents, business and councillors in Belbroughton have been able to pass on their views over the past fortnight during two exhibitions.

Further consultations are planned next summer with the aim of submitting a final plan to authorities by the end of next year.

Once agreed, construction work is anticipated to last for three years and Severn Trent is committed to deliver the scheme by 2020.

Bosses say that an average of around 240 million litres everyday will need to be extracted from the River Severn, but only for a short period of roughly 40 days during the winter months - when the river is at its highest level.

Water for much of Birmingham and the surrounding area has been provided by the Elan Valley Aqueduct, which runs from Wales to Frankley, for more than a century.

But the aqueduct will require maintenance to keep it in service and this will involve it being off-line for lengthy periods.

Dominic Moore of Severn Trent Water said: “We held public exhibitions at Belbroughton, where we displayed maps of the planned route of the pipeline and members of the project team were on hand to answer questions about how we propose to construct and operate the alternative supply and we welcome people’s feedback on our plans.

“Once we have held all the public consultations we will consider all the feedback received as we develop our preferred option.

“We will then hold another round of public exhibition in late summer 2015 to consult the local communities and stakeholders on our preferred option for the pipeline, abstraction point and water treatment works before we finalise our proposal for submission to the local authorities in December 2015.”