Campaigners kick up stink over sewer plan

CAmpaigners are kicking up a stink over plans to use an award-winning park as part of a super sewer planned across the capital.

Residents fear that the plans for the Thames Tunnel mean they will lose part of King Edward VII Memorial Park in Glamis Road in Wapping.

The park opened in 1922, and regularly wins Green Flag status, which is given to the best parks in the UK.

Thames Water is planning a �3.6 billion upgrade of London’s antiquated sewer system, taking sewerage across the city to a treatment plant in Beckton.

A section of its preferred route, which is subject to a public consultation, includes overflow points linking the tunnel using either, part of the park or the foreshore, and also to the back of Narrow Street. Carl Dunsire, the chairman of Save King Edward Memorial Park, said: “There are alternative brownfield sites they could use.

“We are objecting to either option, by using the foreshore they are still taking away the park. There are brownfield sites – they need to look harder.”

He is urging residents to respond to the consultation on the Thames Tunnel plans by logging on to the website www.thamestunelconsultation.co.uk/have-your-say.aspx by January 14 and sign the group’s petition at www.savekemp.com

Thames Water said: “We shortlisted only two possible work sites close to where the North East Storm Relief Sewer discharges into the river Thames.

“We assessed the suitability of each site by taking into account engineering, planning, environment, property and community considerations.”