The Green candidate for Mayor of London joined campaigners in South West London to see first hand the damage being caused by poor management of the River Thames

Visiting Teddington Lock on Friday, Zoë Garbett spoke to local politicians and campaigners to understand how the local area in Richmond has been impacted. 

She used the visit to criticise the policy of privatisation of water under Conservative governments and Labour's unwillingness to do more than posture on the issue. She pledged to do more to hold Thames Water to account.

Zoë Garbett said:

"The state of sewage and water management in London and across the country is a national scandal. It is unlawful, unhealthy and disastrous for people's safety and wellbeing.

"This is because water companies like Thames Water are owned by big businesses who are more bothered about maximising profits for their shareholders rather than providing a public service.. 

"For too long the current Mayor of London has played softball with Thames Water. A Green Mayor would ensure our tap water is safeguarded, by working with the public to force Thames Water to take whatever steps they need to. If their profits need to take a hit, so be it."

Alongside a different, grassroots method of handling Thames Water, Zoë also pledges to review river and water management across London. 

Nationally, Greens have committed to renationalising water companies, seeing public ownership as key to orientating essential services like water towards people rather than private profits.

Zoë added:

"Whilst companies like Thames Water have been pumping sewage into our rivers, the Conservatives have failed to acknowledge their experimentation with privatisation has failed.

"For decades, money that should have been invested in improving infrastructure has been syphoned off by water company executives and shareholders. Only the Greens have the courage to challenge this and put our health and the health of our local environment before the profits of big businesses."

Zoë Garbett is running for London Mayor alongside a slate of Green candidates for the London Assembly, including London South West candidate Chas Warlow, who was at Teddington Lock alongside Zoe. Chas added: "I live just five minutes from the Lock and along with many residents I'm very concerned about the state of the river and Thames Water's abstraction plans. Such basic resources and environmental goods like water should not be managed by profit-making businesses."