Today, Liberal Democrat MPs for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson, met with Environment Agency CEO, Philip Duffy in Ham, to call on him to block Thames Water's proposed Teddington DRA project. 

The meeting was the next step in the Lib Dem MPs' campaign against the scheme, which also saw Olney and Wilson with Minister for Water, Robbie Moore MP earlier this week to voice their opposition to the plans. 

Thames Water's proposals would temporarily destroy 17 acres of nature reserves, conservation areas, and community parks to install a pipeline that would pump treated sewage from Mogden Sewage works to Teddington Lock.

When completed, the scheme will pump up to 75 million litres of effluent into the Thames a day.

Prior to this scheme being announced, the Environment Agency blocked a similar design on the same site due to its serious impact on local wildlife and ecology. 

The Liberal Democrat MPs are calling for Thames Water's revised proposals to be similarly halted, and have accused the Conservative Government of 'turning a blind eye' whilst water companies pump millions of gallons of sewage into waterways each year. 

Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney commented: "Both DEFRA and the EA can see the danger this scheme poses to our communities, and I am glad to have had positive meetings with representatives from both organisations this week. 

"The Teddington DRA will destroy beautiful parts of our community and pump yet more sewage into the Thames.

advertisement

"No one denies we need to secure water supplies, but this scheme is not right for our community or the river. It's a slapdash fix to a problem Thames Water have created by letting their networks fall into ruin. 

"For too long, Conservative Ministers have turned a blind eye to sewage dumping. It is now time for them to stand up to Thames Water and block this proposal before it's too late."