Teddington Direct River Abstraction Project
(Twickenham) (LD)
I rise to present a petition about Thames
Water’s Teddington direct river abstraction proposals to
draw water out of the River Thames in times of drought and
replace it with treated sewage. I sincerely hope that Ministers
will listen to the more than 700 residents who have signed this
petition, the almost 30,000 people who have signed the Change.org
petition and the many hundreds who responded to the company’s
consultation on the water resources management plan, all of whom
are deeply concerned about the significant environmental, social
and construction impacts.
The petition states:
“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons ask
the Government to remove the Teddington Direct River Abstraction
scheme as an option in the Water Resources Management Plan, which
is currently under review by DEFRA.”
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The petition of residents of the constituency of Twickenham in
London
Declares extreme concern regarding Thames
Water’s proposed scheme to build the Teddington Direct
River Abstraction (DRA) project; notes that this would involve
extracting up to 75 million litres of water from the River Thames
in Teddington and replacing it with treated effluent from Mogden
Sewage Treatment works; further notes that this project would
involve the construction of tunnels and shafts starting in
Isleworth and passing through Twickenham and Ham; further
declares the potential risks this presents to local areas, both
in terms of the impact on human health, the environment and
biodiversity, and in terms of the disruption caused by
construction in residential areas, as well as in nature areas in
Moormead Park and Ham Lands; further notes the opposition
conveyed by local community groups and residents; further
declares concern that feedback submitted through Thames
Water’s initial public consultations has not been
adequately reflected in Thames Water’s response
so far; and further declares that more viable alternatives to the
Teddington DRA, with broader public support, have been
discarded.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons ask
the Government to remove the Teddington DRA as an option in the
Water Resources Management Plan (WRMP), which is currently under
review by DEFRA.
And the petitioners remain, etc.]
