London Mayor Ken Livingstone has submitted an appeal to the High Court challenging the Government decision to approve Thames Water’s plans to construct a desalination plant in East London.
The Mayor said he was challenging the Government’s decision “as I do not believe the evidence we put forward at the public inquiry was given proper consideration.”
Mr Livingstone called on Thames Water to concentrate on “fixing more leaks rather than finding expensive ways to spend Londoners’ money on making fresh water. They have the worst leakage record in the UK and the water produced by this plant won’t even come close to replacing what they waste every day.”
“Adding £200 million to Londoners’ water bills to spend on a technology more appropriate for the desert is simply a disgrace. I cannot sit back and allow that to happen. ”