Sarah on the Thames super-sewer

1.41.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Aug 2008

Sarah is glad that work is at last starting on the Thames super-sewer to stop raw sewage flowing into the river and has written the following letter to some papers. Sarah, who ran a petition to Brussels demanding action to stop health-threatening river pollution from the sewage discharges, is pictured here with LibDem London Assembly member Dee Doocey inspecting Thames water. But Sarah insists that Londoners should not now foot the bill for work that is long overdue, and any disruption from the construction must be minimized.

In the 21st century, Londoners should not have to put up with a 'big stink' from raw untreated sewage pouring into the Thames on average once a week. This is not something Europe's top city should tolerate.

When London's system of sewage overflows with rainwater into our river was devised by the Victorians, it was progressive as it stopped sewage running down the streets! A century and a half later, it is primitive and a health hazard for residents, walkers and rowers (including Olympic ones).

The 20-mile interceptor tunnel is both necessary and long overdue. Thames Water should have been treating all discharged sewage for at least the last decade. Working with my London Assembly colleague Mike Tuffrey I took a petition to Brussels to force the UK government to respect the EU law that it signed.

The desire of Conservative Hammersmith & Fulham Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh to 'fight this madness' is totally out of step with his own party. In response to probing by Mike Tuffrey, London's Tory Mayor Boris Johnson recently confirmed that he supported the principle of the development.

But I call on Conservatives to join with Liberal Democrats in insisting that the cost of the tunnel should not just be passed on to Londoners' bills. The super-sewer tunnel represents simply catch-up for decades of government and Thames Water underinvestment. And it is up to us all through planning controls to make sure that the construction does not create massive nuisance or destroy valued local amenities.