Thames Water has issued details of six additional public exhibitions giving Londoners a chance to have their say on the proposed Thames Tunnel scheme.
The company is currently consulting on plans to construct a new ‘super sewer’ tunnel which the company says will “significantly reduce” the amount of sewage overflowing into the river. Located approximately 75 metres below ground and spanning a total length of 20 miles, the tunnel will “broadly follow” the river’s path before taking one of three routes:
- north east to connect to the Lee Tunnel at Abbey Mills in Stratford
- east following the river and crossing the Greenwich peninsular up to Beckton Sewage Works in Newham
- south east, straight to Greenwich and then on to Beckton.
The scheme is opposed by a number of bodies and groups including Hammersmith and Fulham Council who say there are “better options” which will cost Thames Water’s customers less money.
A 14-week public consultation started in September and the company says more than 4,000 people have attended the 18 exhibitions it has already held. The six new exhibitions will be held on the following dates:
Wandsworth: Thursday 18 November, 10am – 8pm – Wandsworth Town Hall, High Street SW18 2PU
Westminster: Friday 19 November, 10am – 8pm – Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street W1P 3AA
Tower Hamlets: Friday 19 November, 10am – 8pm – John Scurr Community Centre, 1a Bekesbourne Street, London E14 7JQ
Chiswick: Saturday 20 November, 10am – 5pm – Chiswick Pier Trust,The Pier House, Corney Reach Way, W4 2UG
Wandsworth: Saturday 20 November, 10am – 5pm – London Rowing Club, Embankment, Putney, SW15 1LB.
Southwark: Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 December, 10am – 8pm – City Hall, The Queen’s Walk
Phil Stride, Head of London Tideway Tunnels, at Thames Water, said: “We want to give everyone an opportunity to have their say. Rest-assured, no final decisions have been taken yet. We certainly haven’t got all the answers at this stage, but we are closer to getting them following new information which has been provided by local people and the feedback we have received so far.
“We are carefully considering all comments and suggestions and where possible we will amend our plans. These revisions will form the basis of the second phase of public consultation which will take place in 2011.”
