LOCAL MP STEPS UP OPPOSITION TO PLANS FOR THAMES SEWAGE PUMP AT TEDDINGTON
Local MP Munira Wilson has today written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, stating that the Thames Water’s proposals for a multi-million pound scheme to pump effluent in the River Thames is ‘fundamentally incompatible” with plans to create a special bathing area in the same area.
Her letter is part of the consultation process over the 13 proposed sites being considered. She writes:-
“I am writing this letter as my formal response to the consultation that is currently underway for the 13 proposed sites in England being considered for bathing water status.
“Specifically, I would like to give my full support to the application for bathing water status at the River Thames at Ham and Kingston, which includes a stretch of the river in my constituency of Twickenham.
“The River Thames is woven into the very the fabric of our community – from Eel Pie Island to Teddington Lock, to the shores of the White Swan pub and the crossing at Hammerton’s Ferry.
“On any given day, our beautiful river and its banks are alive with people and families enjoying nature, including paddle boarding, boating, rowing and swimming.
“I’m grateful to the Teddington Bluetits and the Ham & Kingston Bathers, two of our local wild swimming groups, who were behind the application for bathing water status.
“Alongside the wild swimmers, our area is home to countless sporting groups that host activities on the river: Twickenham Rowing Club, Twickenham Yacht Club, Tamesis Club, Royal Canoe Club and The Lensbury, just to name a few.
“Many of these include activities for children and young people, and we are also home to the Twickenham Sea Cadets, whose unit has been recognised as one of the top Sea Cadet units in the UK.
“Making the River Thames at Ham and Kingston the first-ever designated bathing spot in London would be a huge boon not just for local residents, but also for Londoners as a whole.
“This would represent wonderful recognition of the place our precious river has in our local community, whilst ensuring that the water quality is safe and healthy for everyone.
“I must also mention that, with the Government acknowledging the need to improve water quality in our rivers, I hope your department will also heed my and campaigners’ calls to scrap Thames Water’s proposals to pump treated effluent into the river Thames at Teddington.
“These proposals are fundamentally incompatible with improving water quality along our precious stretch of the River Thames, and it is difficult to see how bathing water status could go ahead alongside the Thames Water Direction River Abstraction (TDRA) proposals.
“By scrapping the TDRA and granting bathing water status along this stretch of the river, the Government has a unique opportunity to demonstrate a clear commitment to making sure our rivers are safe and clean for everyone.
“I am pleased to lend my full and unwavering support to the bathing water status application.
Yours sincerely,
MUNIRA WILSON MP
Member of Parliament for Twickenham