Chelsea and Fulham MP, Greg Hands, has met with Thames Water to seek urgent efforts to reduce the likely impact of the building of the Super Sewer on south Fulham.
Earlier this month, the independent Planning Inspectorate ruled at the end of a year-long inquiry that the western drill site for the Super Sewer (or Thames Tideway Tunnel) would come to Carnwath Road in Fulham. The decision dashed the hopes of Greg and thousands of local residents that the drill site might yet be moved to another, more suitable site, further up the River, in an area less densely inhabited.
Greg said: “My position on the Super Sewer is clear: Together with the previous Conservative Council, I have long opposed the project coming to Carnwath Road. I have fought hard alongside hundreds of residents to try to prevent the tunnel being dug from Fulham, and proposed alternate sites. I have spoken at three open meetings, lobbied ministers, written submissions and met hundreds of local residents to hear their concerns. Together with the Conservative Council, there have been no elected representatives fighting harder on this project than us.
"However now that the decision has been made, I believe that residents will best be served by applying pressure on the developers to ensure residents are listened to and the interests of south Fulham are protected. I am therefore now keen to get as much as we can from Thames Water in terms of changes, assurances and compensation for local residents, to reduce as much as we can the detrimental impact of the construction of this sewer.”
This week Greg met Andy Mitchell, the new Chief Executive of Thames Tideway Tunnel, and Phil Stride, Thames Water’s Head of Thames Tideway Tunnel. He asked them detailed questions about the phases of construction, dates and times of operations, environmental impacts and transport disruption. They reported that these details were still under consideration as the tendering for sub-contractors will not be completed until next year. However Greg impressed upon them the need to work with residents and local organisations to allow them to share their concerns and update them on the progress of the project, in as much detail and as frequently as possible.
Andy Mitchell, who recently joined the TTT project from working on Crossrail, promised Greg that they were “all ears” when it came to talking with residents. Thames have agreed with Greg’s proposal to set up liaison groups with local residents, schools and businesses, and also to Greg’s suggestion that he host an Open Meeting in the coming weeks in south Fulham where those concerned can put their questions directly to both Thames and TTT.
Greg added, “While the precise details of the plans are still being worked out by the contractors, I can promise that I will continue to keep up the pressure on Thames Water and TTT Ltd. I shall continue to liaise with businesses, schools and local residents to make sure Thames Water and TTT Ltd listens to them, and together, residents and I shall fight to get the best deal for Fulham we can.”