Proposed 'super-sewer' in Southwark

On 13 September, Thames Water launched a 14-week public consultation on plans for a proposed Thames Tunnel, which it says will significantly reduce sewage discharges into the River Thames.

Back in October Leader of the council, cllr Peter John said: "When the consultation was announced on this issue I stated publicly that the council would vigorously opose the proposals to site Thames Tunnel shafts at Druid Street and King Stairs Gardens. This remains the case. We have very little metropolitan open land and play spaces in our borough and we will not allow them to be sacrificed.

"I do not share the view that some people hold that the Thames Tunnel is unnecessary. I believe that such a view is short-sighted and does not address the need for us to make the Thames cleaner. However, there are alternative sites available to Thames Water for these works and we should do all that we can to persuade them to acquire alternative sites.

"This view will be the basis of the representations which we make to Thames Water during this consultation period."

Further details

The tunnel will run up to 20 miles from its starting point in west London, and will broadly follow the route of the river at a depth of up to 75 metres, to the east of Tower Bridge before going one of three ways:

• North east to connect to the Lee Tunnel at Abbey Mills in Stratford - the shortest of the proposed routes.
• 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.

People can take part in the consultation by visiting the Thames Tunnel consultation website: www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk.