Environmental campaigner, writer and former Powys resident George Monbiot has spoken out against propositions to transport Welsh water to London.

Writing for The Guardian, Mr Monbiot spoke of the scheme to use water from Powys to boost supply in London and South East England.

The proposal was put forward by United Utilities, Severn Trent Water and Thames Water in a collaboration that is reportedly still under development and one of many possible solutions being suggested to meet the water shortages in Southern England.

Mr Monbiot’s column labelled the proposal as “the stupidest of all solutions”.

He said: “It’s a classic end-of-pipe solution. Rather than addressing the problem at source, it piles one problem upon another.”

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Mr Monbiot owned a Machynlleth property from 2007 to 2022, selling the residence in February last year, arranging for it to be sold to a local family to keep it on the open market.

In his column he cited a lack of attempts to reduce water demand, the leakage rate of Thames Water and the lack of nature based solutions to hold back water in the catchment to reduce droughts and floods.

He also highlighted potential environmental impacts and a lack of infrastructure and investment in new water supplies for areas in short supply.

He added: “This project, in effect, shifts the supply problem from one part of the country to another.”

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Severn Trent and United Utilities have both said the proposal, one of several options reportedly being explored, would not take any additional water from the reservoir, redistributing the water already being transported elsewhere to meet demand in the capital.

The proposal is reportedly “one of many options” that Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy are exploring as long term options to meet water demand from 2050 and beyond.

A spokesperson for Severn Trent said: “As required by legislation, and to address the challenges of population growth right across the UK, Severn Trent and Wrexham-based Hafren Dyfrdwy are exploring many options to meet water demand from 2050 and beyond.”