The leader of Hammersmith and Fulham council has slammed the government’s decision to give the go-ahead for a ‘super sewer’ which will cause years of ‘human misery’.
Council leader Stephen Cowan is challenging the decision arguing that residents near the site will be subject to persistent noise, dust and air pollution which could have a detrimental impact on their health.
Councillor Cowan said: “This is a disgraceful decision by the government which effectively says that a piece of park land is more important than a community where thousands of people live.
“The park would have been restored after construction was completed, but using Carnwath Road will cause human misery to thousands of people for years to come.”
Work on the controversial £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel will begin in 2016 after it was approved by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Environment Secretary Liz Truss.
The 25km tunnel will run underground from Acton Storm Tanks in West London, through Fulham and then underneath the River Thames to Abbey Mills pumping station.
The works are set to be completed in 2023 and aim to create a cleaner and healthier Thames by tackling the issue of sewage pollution.
The project has been a matter of intense dispute and campaigning since it was first proposed by Thames Water.
The construction site, which will be the size of four football pitches, is needed to create a major drilling entrance for the 15-mile tunnel under the Thames which aims to tackle the problem of raw sewage entering the river.
A council spokesman said that residents living near the site would potentially be subject to noise and air pollution for eight years and the loss of potential new homes, jobs and community facilities at Carnwath Road.
Five schools are within 700 metres of the proposed site at Carnwath Road, as well as several day nurseries.
In their letter of explanation the Secretaries of State argue that there is a ‘good case’ for granting the development order which is ‘not outweighed’ by the adverse impacts.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council are investigating grounds for appeal.
Picture courtesy of Patrick Brosset, with thanks
