Richard Tracey, Wandsworth’s London Assembly member has hailed Thames Water decision to abandon its plans to build a massive construction site at Barn Elms as a base station for the building of the Thames Tunnel.

Speaking as it was announced that work at the site would be scaled back to last two years, instead of the originally planned six, and the plans no longer include the construction of a massive drive shaft, Mr Tracey said:

“This is a huge victory for Barn Elms and for all those who opposed this colossal and highly-disruptive scheme. I am extremely relieved that Thames Water has seen sense on this matter.”

The company also announced that it plans to move 90% of the spoil generated by the building of the super sewer by river barge.

Mr Tracey added:

“And it is further to their credit and to the Mayor, who I have lobbied on the matter of spoil removal, that Thames has listened to our concern about moving building spoil by road and instead agreed to remove the vast majority of spoil from the sewer’s construction by river.”

ENDS