LOCAL MP CALLS ON THAMES WATER TO SCRAP SEWAGE SCHEME
Local Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson made an impassioned speech at the protest calling for Thames Water to scrap its controversial proposals to replace river water in the Thames at Teddington with treated sewage.
The protest, organised by local group Save our Lands and River (SOLAR), coincides with the launch of Thames Water’s 10-week statutory consultation for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA Proposals).
Munira joined campaigners, residents and local councillors at the event, and spoke alongside Marlene Lawrence from the Bluetits swimming club, and former Olympic rower Ian McNuff of SOLAR. Local art students also showcased fashion designs protesting the TDRA.
Munira has called on the Government to scrap the TDRA on health and environmental grounds, citing Thames Water’s mismanagement and precarious financial state as further reasons.
Munira is encouraging residents to have their say on the statutory consultation. Find out how here.
Munira said: “Whilst I recognise that Thames Water is fulfilling its statutory duty to consult local residents, it doesn’t change the fact that, time and time again, Thames Water has failed to make the case that the Teddington sewage recycling proposals are the right proposals to achieve its drought resilience objectives.”
“These ill-advised proposals don’t even scratch the surface of the problem they seek to solve, whilst causing as yet unquantified harm to people and the environment,” Munira added.
Munira has raised concerns about the TDRA’s impact on water quality, human health, biodiversity and wildlife, as well as the upheaval that would be caused in precious local nature areas.
Munira has also challenged Thames Water’s rationale for the proposal, given more viable alternative proposals are available; with the environmental, construction and social impacts yet to be fully assessed; and given Thames Water’s contention that the TDRA represents the “best value” option has yet to be proven.
The TDRA would save only a fraction of the hundreds of millions of litres of water that Thames Water loses every day through leaks, whilst years of illegal sewage dumping, eyewatering bonuses and drastic price hikes for consumers have eroded trust in the company.
This comes recently after reports that the Government is ramping up preparations to step in if Thames Water’s financial situation continues to deteriorate.
Munira added: “The TDRA is a case in point of Thames Water failing to invest in the essentials whilst pouring millions of pounds of bill payers’ money into short-term fixes that do nothing but produce new assets for the company to borrow against.
“This leaves residents, and bill payers across the southeast of England, rightly asking why they should fund yet another white elephant that could damage both the ecology of the Thames, and river users’ health, for very limited gain.”
Ian McNuff, former Olympic rower and member of campaign group SOLAR, said: “Thames Water’s proposals reflect their wasteful approach to investment, indifference to the paying customer and disdain for the environment.
“We are told that a scheme that costs £1 billion but will sit idle for 90% of its 50-year life is ‘best value’. Yet, when the scheme is switched on, it will replace abstracted water with 75 million litres per day of treated sewage at the height of summer, when our precious river is most used by residents and when it is at its most ecologically vulnerable.
“Thames Water choosing this scheme is a perfect example of why public trust in their decisions and judgement has now gone.”