Ashby Reform UK councillor has blamed "mass immigration" for lower than normal water levels at a Leicestershire reservoir.  

Michael Squires, County Councillor for North West Leicestershire, had claimed Cropston Reservoir, near Bradgate Park, had been "drank dry" due to the issue, but water officials have revealed the real reason for low levels. 



Cllr Michael Squires blames low reservoir water levels on 'mass immigration' (Photo: LDRS via X)

County councillor Squires, who was elected at May's local elections, made the claims after visiting the park last Sunday (September 14). After noting the "beautiful" view, he claimed "mass immigration" was the cause for there being "hardly any water" in the reservoir. 

However, officials from Severn Trent said the "warmest spring and summer on record" coupled with "below average rainfall each month" were the real reasons for the drop. While recent weeks have seen some heavy rain, this has not yet been "enough to restore reservoir levels back to normal", a Severn Trent spokesman told the LDRS. 

Drought conditions were declared across swathes of the country over the summer months, including in Leicestershire in July, after the UK experienced heatwave after heatwave. Locally, temperatures repeatedly hit the high 20s and low 30s. 

Cllr Squires, who represents the Valley region on the county council, offered no evidence to back up his claim "mass immigration" was the cause for the low reservoir levels. Taking to X, he said: "I visited Bradgate Park today (Sunday 14 September). Beautiful view of Cropston reservoir only… there's hardly any water in it! 

"The cause? MASS IMMIGRATION. An extra 10 MILLION people drinking from our beautiful reservoirs. The poor thing has been drank (sic) dry. Ducks out looking for water. SAD." 

The Severn Trent spokesman did acknowledge that water levels were "slightly lower" than the company would like at this time of the year, but said weather had played its part in the issue. He said: "The country has had the warmest spring and summer on record, and with much less rain, there's less water in rivers and reservoirs. 

"We have a good mix of water sources across our region which means water supplies are resilient during and after prolonged spells of drier and hotter weather, with many customers' supplies coming from a combination of reservoirs, boreholes, rivers and springs." 

The spokesman added: "While we have had some long spells of heavy rain, it hasn't been enough to restore reservoir levels back to normal."