Boris Johnson has agreed to drop legal action against Thames Water’s desalination plant at Beckton in return for a commitment by the company to “work with the Mayor to reduce the impact of their roadworks on traffic in London”.
Last year the decision to approve plans for the plant caused a row between the Westminster Government and former-Mayor Ken Livingstone.
However Mayor Johnson has reversed his predecessor’s opposition to the plant in return for what he calls “a fantastic and wide-ranging package of measures” to reduce disruption to road users.
Mr Johnson said “‘roads must not be cordoned off when no one is working there, so Londoners will welcome Thames Water’s commitment to help get cars moving again.”
“This will help to reduce congestion and drivers’ frustrations throughout London. I am also delighted to be working with the company on ways to help Londoners save water, and make new and existing homes less wasteful and more sustainable.”
Thames Water and the Mayor will set up pilot projects “to look at different ways of working in the city’s streets, particularly relating to the company’s extensive programme of Victorian mains replacement.”
