Justine Greening meets residents with the aim of achieving the best solution for the community
On Wednesday Justine Greening MP led a local residents’ meeting - with over 200 attendees - about Thames Water’s plans to tackle sewage overflow in the Thames with the proposed Thames Tunnel. This followed an earlier public meeting she organised with Thames Water in December.
Justine has campaigned for a number of years on behalf of residents to sort out the problem of sewage being discharged locally directly into the Thames. Every year approximately 820,000 tonnes of untreated sewage is being pumped directly along the Putney stretch of the Thames alone - that’s the equivalent of over 100 million toilet flushes. Justine emphasized the need for the Thames Tunnel to address this problem, but she is working with Thames Water to make sure the tunnel proposal works for the local community.
Throughout the meeting, she reiterated residents’ concerns about the suitability of the proposed preferred sites locally at Barn Elms, Putney Bridge Foreshore and King Georges Park, and in particular the use of greenfield sites over brownfield sites. Justine also shares concerns about the impact construction at these sites would have on local residents and local transport infrastructure.
She is now setting up a working group to ensure residents can meet and talk directly with Thames Water throughout the entire process of developing the Thames Tunnel project. If you are interested in being part of the working group then please email Justine directly at greeningj@parliament.uk with the subject ‘TT Working Group’ or contact Justine’s office on 0208 946 4557.
Following the meeting Justine said:
“Over the years many residents, including local rowers, have raised concerns with me about sewage being pumped directly into the river so people do want to see the sewage problem sorted out. However, residents are rightly concerned about the huge disruption and local environmental impact involved in setting up a main draft shaft at Barn Elms, which we feel is unacceptable. I also share many residents’ concerns about the impact of the combine sewage overflow sites at the Victorian Putney Bridge Foreshore and King Georges Park sites.
"I have since met with Thames Water and highlighted these points with them directly, as well as the many other issues we discussed at the residents’ meeting, to make sure they are fully aware of the impact the proposed preferred sites for the Thames Tunnel will have on residents locally.
"I very much hope that Thames Water will not just listen to residents’ concerns but start to reflect those concerns in their plans. I think what Thames Water need to do now is think about what the best solution for our community would look like to ensure the Thames Tunnel works for us as well as help tackle the serious problem of sewage discharge in the Thames. This is something I will be working with other local residents to achieve over the coming months.”
Additionally, Justine has organised a joint public meeting with Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park & Kingston North, and Thames Water, specifically to discuss the suitability of Barn Elms as a site for one of the main drive shafts. That meeting will be taking place on Thursday 13th January from 8.00pm at Holy Trinity Church, Castelnau, Barnes, SW13 9ET.
Remember, the consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 14th January so it is vital that residents respond before then. You can respond to the public consultation at www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk or alternatively write to Thames Water directly at Thames Tunnel Consultation, Thames Water Utilities, Freepost SCE9923, PO BOX 522, Swindon, SN2 8LA or email to thames.tunnel@thameswater.co.uk.
January 7th, 2011
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