Details revealed in plans for massive Thames Tunnel Project
The multi-billion project to reduce sewage overflow into the Thames will involved the construction of an expanded sewage tunnel under parts of Chiswick including Bedford Park and Chiswick Mall.
In consultation documents released today by Thames Water more details of the scheme have been released showing that the Acton Storm Relief site on Warple Way will be the main construction site for local work in relation to the massive project.
Part of the project involves connecting the local combined sewer overflow (CSO) at the Warple Way site, to the main tunnel of the proposed Thames Tunnel project. This will involve the building of a 2.6km tunnel which maps on the consultation document suggest will pass under Abinger Road, Welstead Way, Netheravon Road and Chiswick Mall.
Thames are currently proposing to use land within their existing site on Warple Way near the Factory Quarter development for this construction work and to accommodate permanent structures required to operate the tunnel. It is envisaged that construction work on the site would last for around 2 years.
The site of the former Chiswick Maternity Hospital on Netheravon Road South was identified as a potential site when the project was initially conceived as it was vacant but since then planning permission has been given for the development of residential properties. It is no longer considered a viable option. The car park, Welstead Way was also considered but ruled out due to the difficulty of access and the potential disturbance to local residents.
Originally, it was thought that sites like Homefield Recreation Ground, Ravenscourt Park or Dukes Meadows were being considered.
It is from CSOs like the Acton Storm Relief that untreated sewage is discharged directly into the river. Thames Water claim that London’s mainly Victorian sewerage system, which was designed to transport both sewage and storm water is at or near capacity. Some CSOs discharge untreated sewage into the River Thames on average more than once a week and after only 2mm of rainfall. This situation is likely to become worse in the future, due to population growth and increased urbanisation.
Starting in west London and broadly following the path of the River Thames through the centre of the capital, the main tunnel would transfer the flows from the most polluting CSOs to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works in the east of the city.
Thames need a significant number of sites to construct the Thames Tunnel project. Large ‘shaft sites’ are required at certain points along the route to allow the construction of the main tunnel. Smaller ‘CSO sites’ are also required near each of the most polluting CSOs to connect them to the main tunnel.
The publication of more details about the project represents the first round of public consultation on the project. Thames hope to have planning approval by 2012 and aim to start work in 2013 with completion in 2020.
September 13, 2010
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