Did water minister flout hosepipe ban? 15ft hose found 'gushing' in grounds of his stately home

By Leon Watson

Published: | Updated:


The water minister has been accused of breaching the  hosepipe ban after one was left on in the grounds of his  stately home.

Reporters from a tabloid newspaper said that they discovered a 15ft hose gushing water in the sprawling grounds of Tory MP Richard Benyon’s impressive family estate in Newbury, Berkshire.

But last night the minister accused reporters of switching on the hose, saying: ‘It looks like they turned on a  hose that hasn’t been used for ages and took pictures.’

Newbury MP Richard Benyon (left), pictured with EU commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Maria Damanaki, has accused a Sunday newspaper of turning on a tap at his ancestral home

Newbury MP Richard Benyon (left), pictured with EU commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Maria Damanaki, has accused a Sunday newspaper of turning on a tap at his ancestral home

The newspaper stood by its story  and accused Mr Benyon, whose 20,000-acre family estate is worth £125million, of lying.

A spokesman for Defra said: ‘Mr Benyon has reported to Thames Valley Police an incident of trespass on his property on the afternoon of April 6 and the police are investigating.’

Reporters from The People claimed they arrived at Englefield House the day after the hosepipe ban was introduced, covering 20million people, to discover the hosepipe running.

Anyone who breaches the ban, which affects one in three homes in Britain, faces a £1,000 fine. Water companies have warned that if low water levels continue, they may be forced to introduce drought orders, which prevents non-essential business use.

Mr Benyon's stately home, which lies on his £125million family estate in Newbury

Mr Benyon's stately home, which lies on his £125million family estate in Newbury

This could lead to private swimming pools and car washes being closed.

Last night, a spokesman for Thames Water said that the company was considering applying for an order, though he said it was unlikely to be used except in extreme circumstances.

Nick Ellens, a spokesman for Water UK, which represents  suppliers, said drought orders  were unlikely to be brought in  and had last been used in 1976. ‘Drought orders are a possibility if things get really bad and are there to avoid the worst possible outcome,’ he said.

‘They take ten weeks to be approved, as they have to go in front of the Secretary of  State, so water companies may  be thinking ahead by applying  for them.’

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