Thames Water has published a report on its four month phase one public consultation on the proposed Thames Tunnel.

The 'super sewer' is urgently required to help tackle the 39 million tonnes of sewage discharged into the River Thames each year, due to lack of capacity in the capital's Victorian sewerage network. Thames Water’s preferred 'Abbey Mills' tunnel route received the most support (39% of 1,596 respondents). Thames Water still considers this to be the most appropriate route on the grounds of cost and minimising disruption.

During the consultation more than 4,750 people attended 25 public exhibitions and 2,869 people submitted formal feedback, in addition to feedback from technical consultees and landowners. Thames Water sent out 173,000 letters and attended over 50 other public meetings to discuss the project with local communities who might be affected.

The consultation covered all aspects of the proposed project from the need for a solution, the preferred and shortlisted routes and construction sites identified so far, and alternative solutions to implementing a tunnel. Thames Water also presented how engineering, environmental, community, planning and property issues had been considered.

The report stresses that no final decisions have yet been taken and that there will be a further phase of consultation in the autumn, before which Thames Water will present revised and updated plans with additional detail for each preferred site.

Summary of feedback and findings:

• Of those people who expressed an opinion, the vast majority supported the need to reduce sewage overflowing into the river (1,661 to 70).
• Of those people who expressed an opinion, the majority supported the tunnel as the best way of addressing the problem (922 to 248). Thames Water will continue to progress the Thames Tunnel as the preferred solution.
• Thames Water’s preferred 'Abbey Mills' tunnel route received the most support (39% of 1,596 respondents). Thames Water still considers this to be the most appropriate route on the grounds of cost and minimising disruption.
• Of the site specific responses on potential construction sites, the majority of comments were on Barn Elms Playing Fields in Richmond (798 responses, plus one petition with 5,013 signatures). Since the consultation, Thames Water has announced sites south of Carnwath Road in Fulham are being considered as a potential alternative major shaft site.
• 344 people commented on the potential use of King’s Stairs Gardens in Rotherhithe. A petition was also submitted with 5,274 signatures. Since the consultation, Thames Water has announced it has purchased Chambers Wharf in Bermondsey, which will be considered as a potential alternative.
• 197 people commented on the potential use of the King Edward Memorial Park foreshore in Wapping. Thames Water still believes that the foreshore is the most appropriate site because it avoids the need for a large work site in the park, reduces the impact upon nearby residents and allows the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) which is directly under the park to be connected to the tunnel. This is one of the largest sewer overflows, which discharges 780,000 tonnes of sewage into the River each year on average. All concerns raised will be taken into account as the project is developed, including working to reduce or remove the proposed ventilation column and associated machinery for this site.

Phil Stride, Head of London Tideway Tunnels, at Thames Water, said:

"We are very grateful to everybody who has taken the time to meet with us and submit feedback. This is fundamental to ensure that we deliver the most suitable solution, meeting the aims of the project, while providing best value for money and keeping disruption to a minimum.

"Since the consultation closed we have been refining options for the tunnel, including reducing the number of sites required, and identifying alternative sites which are now under consideration.

"As a result of feedback received and further work to develop the project, we have highlighted possible changes at 13 of our preferred construction sites and no changes at 10.

"Before we make any final decisions we want to receive feedback on our amended proposals through our phase two consultation, due to start this autumn.

"We remain committed to ensuring everyone's views are heard, and will give everyone an equal opportunity to comment on our revised proposals. If anyone has comments or questions prior to the second consultation, please get in touch."