THAMES TUNNEL NOW GROUP CRITICISES SELBORNE REPORT
Environmental, wildlife and amenity groups reacted with dismay to Lord Selborne’s
Thames Tunnel Commission report suggesting alternatives to the planned Thames
Tunnel. Thames21 Chief Executive Debbie Leach said: “This report’s suggestions will
not solve the problem. Should its views be accepted, the River Thames will be
devastated by worsening sewage pollution.”
The Thames Tunnel Now group (TTN) said that there was no logic to the Selborne
Commission’s suggestion to build a much shorter Tunnel, which does nothing to address
19 of the 34 sewage overflows in London - and is also expected to discharge into the
already over-stretched, existing system.
TTN also rejected strongly Lord Selborne’s suggestion that the public should tolerate
levels of sewage in the Thames which fail to meet acceptable limits established by the
Environment Agency and by experts throughout the world. TTN has issued a stark
warning on the dangers to wildlife from lack of oxygen in the water caused by the
sewage. Levels of oxygen needed to protect river wildlife were established by the EA
following peer reviewed studies of Thames fish including: smelt, sand smelt, salmon,
dace, flounder, common goby and bass.
TTN member Putney Bridge Canoe Club pointed out that adoption of lesser solutions
such as those suggested by the Selborne Report would mean continuing risk from
sewage pollution to the health and well-being of both recreational and commercial users
of the river.
The Selborne Commission has proposed that because of the current economic situation
the UK should have lower standards of cleanliness. TTN points out that the Thames
Tunnel will provide an effective and sustainable solution to sewage pollution for at least
one hundred and fifty years. A spokesman said: “Future generations will inherit the
decisions we make today. This is a long term strategic decision that is already overdue.
To build a shorter tunnel that doesn’t solve the problem simply because of the recession
is illogical.” Data from DEFRA indicates that the economic benefits alone of a cleaner
Thames will exceed the costs involved. Chancellor George Osborne has also come to
the view that infrastructure projects will help boost the economy.
Local resident Monica Tremain said: “The sewage in the Thames is disgusting. It is like
something from a history book about Medieval times. Are we really living like this? When
is something effective going to be done?”
However, TTN welcomed the Selborne Report’s emphasis on the value of Sustainable
Urban Drainage Systems and green infrastructure. London Wildlife Trust Chief
Executive Carlo Laurenzi said: “By implementing such measures widely in new
developments and also whenever there is practical opportunity for retrofitting, multiple
benefits will be experienced and the Thames Tunnel future-proofed yet further.
However, the full tunnel solution is still needed. Half a tunnel, as suggested by Selborne,
will just not do the job.”
DEFRA has recently conducted a re-evaluation of the case for the Thames Tunnel,
including the economic case for the project, and has re-affirmed its support. The relevant
pages on the DEFRA website can be found via this link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/11/03/pb13677-thames-tunnel/
Notes to Editors and Further Quotes
Thames Tunnel Now (TTN) is an expanding collective of environmental and wildlife charities and
amenity groups which came together in October 2011 to protest at potential delays to plans to
stop sewage pollution in the River Thames through the construction of the Thames Tunnel project.
Its members include:- Angling Trust, Barge Association, Inland Waterways Association, , London
Sustainability Exchange, London Wildlife Trust, Mammal Society, Marine Conservation Society,
National Association of Boat Owners, Putney Bridge Canoe Club, River Thames Society, Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds, Salmon & Trout Association, Thames21, Thames Anglers
Conservancy, Thames Rivers Restoration Trust.
Supporting quotes from members of TTN and a local resident:
Debbie Leach, Chief Executive, Thames21 said: “The state of the river is shameful and
Thames21 calls for fast, effective action. Caring for the river is a labour of love for thousands of
Thames21 volunteers, and the River Thames should be London’s pride and joy. But increasingly
frequently people are driven away by disgusting and abhorrent levels of sewage. Research has
shown clearly that the Thames Tunnel is the best solution, and we need it delivered without
delay.”
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “I have been campaigning, in a number
of roles, for nearly 20 years for action to stop the vast quantities of sewage flushing into the tidal
Thames every time it rains. These sewage overflows kill huge numbers of freshwater and marine
fish and are completely unacceptable. At last we have a chance to solve the problem, to create a
fantastic fishery in the heart of London and along the Thames estuary and support fish stocks in
the North Sea. Anglers must make their voice heard to ensure that this fantastic scheme goes
ahead and we drown out the voices of those who would prefer to see millions of tons of harmful
filth being dumped into the river if it means they don’t have to have a few years of construction
works in their borough. There is no alternative to the Thames Tunnel, let’s get on with building it.”
Carlo Laurenzi OBE, Chief Executive of the London Wildlife Trust said: “The Thames Tunnel
is an important project for the long term health of the River Thames. At the moment untreated
sewage overflows into the Thames regularly, as the Victorian sewerage system cannot cope with
needs of a modern capital city. A less polluted river would create greatly improved conditions for a
wide range of wildlife supported by the River Thames including the iconic and dwindling European
eel, smelt, flounder, brown trout, dace, thin-lipped grey mullet, sea lamprey, Dover sole, grey
heron, and even seal. Thames Water’s phase two consultation on the proposed Thames Tunnel
begins very shortly. Proposals to shelve the scheme are short-sighted and illogical. London
Wildlife Trust supports the need for the Tunnel not just on ecological grounds but also for the
direct benefit it will have for a broad range of Londoners for generations to come.”
Janina Gray, Salmon & Trout Association said ‘It is totally unacceptable that in this day and
age, in a city like London, we still have raw sewage emptying into the river after heavy rainfall
events, creating dead zones devoid of all life, including fish and the invertebrates on which they
feed. The Tunnel is the only realistic option to protect the vital ecology and ecosystems within the
Thames, and it is our duty to ensure this opportunity is not lost.’
Samantha Heath, Chief Executive, London Sustainability Exchange said: In order for London
to be able to withstand the impact of climate change for many years to come, we need to invest
now. We cannot afford to approach the issue of how we manage waste water half heartedly.
London has grown and continues to grow, and we need to make sure that future generations have
a world class sewage system that they can depend on’.
David Harvey of the Thames Anglers Conservancy said: “The Thames Anglers Conservancy
was formed on the basis of Anglers dedicated to protecting and improving the river Thames. Our
core message from the very start was stopping the huge amounts of raw sewage entering the
river each year. The summer of 2011 despite being one of the driest, has seen millions of tonnes
of sewage enter the river and the worst devastation of all aquatic life in nearly a decade, leaving
many areas devoid of life. The raw sewage not only kills the species in the river but is a severe
health hazard to all recreational users. The Tunnel is a solution that has been agreed by
successive governments, mayoral offices and experts in this field. The sight of dead fish floating
next to human faeces, condoms and sanitary towels is something that should be unacceptable to
all Londoners in the heart of our modern capital city. We needed to act many years ago, so urge
everyone to support this solution and clean the river up once and for all. To do nothing is simply
not an option.”
Peter Finch, Chairman of the River Society said: “The tidal reaches of the Thames are regularly
polluted by the discharge of sewage. In modern Britain this is scandalous and the River Thames
Society fully supports the building of a storage tunnel to intercept the overflows. This will benefit
all Londoners, as we will have a much cleaner river and a healthier environment.”
Rob Oates, Director of Thames Rivers Restoration Trust said: “Without the Tideway Tunnel to
clean up the mouth of Thames, none of its many tributary rivers in towns and countryside
throughout the region will ever fully get to their best for people and nature.”
Nigel Walley, Chiswick Resident said. “For me, the sewage pollution issue was always slightly
abstract and had never considered the very obvious physical impact of sewage overflows. On the
day of the clean up event, we were shocked to be standing up to our ankles in tissue and sanitary
waste. I would not have asked the kids to join us for the event had I considered what we were
going to encounter.”
Media contact: Emily Braham, Thames21 T: 020 7213 0166
M: 07827 352 675 E: emily.braham@thames21.org.uk