Munira continues to ramp up the pressure on Thames Water and the Government to scrap Thames Water’s controversial sewage recycling scheme in the area. On 12 December, Munira presented a petition in Parliament, signed by over 700 local residents, calling for the proposals to be stopped.
The proposals would pump treated sewage into the river above Teddington Lock via an underground pipeline from Mogden Sewage Treatment Works, as part of Thames Water’s stated drought resilience objectives. However, Munira has repeatedly raised concerns of residents about the environmental, construction and social impact of the proposals,
“This is not about residents saying ‘not in my backyard’ for no good reason, and no one is questioning the need to have robust drought resilience plans to face the climate crisis,” said Munira. “But the bottom line is that the Teddington DRA just doesn’t add up. It’s bad for residents, bad for the environment, bad for water bill payers, and barely scratches the surface of the problem it seeks to resolve.”
Whilst initial concerns about the proposals centred on the impact on water quality, human health and the environment, new information about the construction impacts reveal that Moormead Park in Munira’s constituency, and Ham Lands in Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney’s constituency, would be turned from nature sites to construction sites if the scheme is approved. Residents are also concerned about the social impact, with Moormead Park a vital hub for recreation and community sport, including youth cricket and football
The day before presenting her petition in Parliament, Munira submitted her official response to the most recent Thames Water public consultation.
In a debate Munira held in Parliament in September, she had asked the former Water Minister Rebecca Pow to take the Teddington DRA proposal off the table – which the Government has the power to do. Munira recently challenged Pow’s replacement, Water Minister Robbie Moore, on this in Parliament, and is due to meet with Minister Moore in person next week. Munira also recently joined local campaign groups in a meeting with Thames Water CEO Cathryn Ross.