Campaigners condemn plans for New Forest desalination plant

Southern Water's proposal to convert saltwater from Solent into tap water labelled bizarre' and expensive'

Plans to build an energy-hungry desalination plant in the New Forest national park to provide drinking water for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been condemned by campaigners including the broadcaster Chris Packham.

Southern Water's proposal for a 600m plant at Fawley to convert saltwater from the Solent into tap water during droughts has been formally opposed by the New Forest national park authority. A separate petition against the plan has attracted several thousand signatures.