Thames Water’s ‘super sewer’ exhibition draws a crowd

We reported last week on the launch of Thames Water's latest round of consultation on plans for a tunnel to carry untreated sewage that currently flows into London's river.

The two Southwark sites identified in Thames Water's initial consultation – Alfred Salter Playground in Druid Street and King's Stairs Gardens in Rotherhithe – have both been superceded by new 'preferred sites' in the current round of consultation.

At Shad Thames Pumping Station in Maguire Street the water company now proposes 18 months of work to install new pumps to reduce the amount of sewage discharged into the Thames from local sewers.

A few hundred metres to the east, at Chambers Wharf, the company has prompted controversy with its proposal to use the site for six years as a main tunnel drive and reception site.

The Save Your Riverside campaign says that nearly 90 people attended last week's public meeting at Riverside Primary School. The campaigners claim that years of construction work will prove dangerous and disruptive for pupils at three nearby schools and will affect the quality of life of nearby residents.

The meeting was addressed by Cllr Peter John, Labour leader of Southwark Council, and Liberal Democrat councillors for Riverside ward Anood Al-Samerai and Eliza Mann.

All supported the principle of cleaning up the Thames. Cllr John spoke about the findings of the Selborne commission – part-sponsored by Southwark Council – which had found that similar benefits could be achieved with a shorter tunnel which wouldn't affect Southwark.

"I cannot and I will not stand by and let these works go ahead without putting up some pretty fierce resistance," said the council leader.

"I don't think we should let the intransigence of either the Government or Thames Water jeopardise the prospects of children at this school or in this area.

"My rallying cry is that we must all do all that we can to protect Riverside School, to protect the residents of this area and to protect the environment of this borough.

"We must all say 'no' to Thames Water and their current proposals."