Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron yesterday unveiled a guide to improving rivers and tributaries in North London. She was joined by the Environment Agency and WWF to look at how some of London’s tributary rivers, which have been polluted, channelled or straightened could be restored.
Many of London’s small rivers have been diverted, encased in concrete or even buried underground to prevent flooding. However new approaches to flood risk management offers the potential to restore many of these rivers and substantially improve the landscape in London.
Speaking at the ‘Cracking the Concrete’ conference in City Hall Ms Gavron said “The Mayor’s vision for London is for an exemplary, sustainable world city. Restoring and improving our lost rivers and streams forms an important part of this vision.”
Rob Oates from WWF said his organisation welcomed the initiative and that “millions of people will have their quality of life improved through better access to rivers full of wildlife. Millions of visitors will also enjoy a greener and cleaner city.”
