More than eight out of ten Londoners support the Thames Tunnel, proposed to help tackle growing sewage pollution in the River Thames, a new survey commissioned by Thames Water has revealed.

The news has been warmly welcomed by ‘Thames Tunnel Now’, a coalition of environmental and amenity groups, campaigning against the discharge of untreated sewage into the river.

The telephone poll of 2,400 capital residents, conducted by independent market research company ComRes between 24 May and 3 June, shows that 43 per cent of respondents strongly support the project. Opposition was registered by 11 per cent of the representative cross section of people surveyed.

The sample for the survey was weighted towards the boroughs potentially directly affected by the tunnel’s construction, but also took in residents of all local authority areas in Greater London. Support for the project was highest in Hounslow (93 per cent) and lowest in Lewisham (77 per cent).

Over half of the participants (54 per cent) declared that improving the quality of water in the river was a high priority for them, higher than the proportion of respondents who attached most importance to the appearance of their local environment (47 per cent), or improving traffic in their area (42 per cent).

Whatever their views of the project, an overwhelming majority (96 per cent) agreed that the river is a globally important landmark for London, with 79 per cent viewing it as a source of pride for the capital.  60 per cent were of the opinion that the river is under used.

Less than one in ten (9 per cent) would happily swim in the Thames, a practice recently banned by the Port of London Authority.

Awareness of the project is highest in Richmond (63 per cent), one of the riverside boroughs where Thames Water has focussed its public consultation for the project, which started in September 2010.

Of those who had heard of the project, awareness of it potentially being built in their borough was highest in Hammersmith and Fulham (78 per cent), home to Carnwath Road Riverside, one of four main sites identified by Thames Water as needed to serve as bases for the construction of the tunnel from 2015/16.

Along with Lewisham, Hammersmith and Fulham was also home to the highest proportion of opponents to the project.

Over 60 per cent said that the Thames Tunnel’s potential to create over 9,000 jobs would make them a lot more likely to support the project.

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

“This poll reveals a welcome, underlying groundswell of popular support for the project right across the capital. There’s a clear consensus that allowing growing levels of untreated sewage into the river that so defines our capital city is unacceptable and must be addressed as soon as possible.

“This does not in any way diminish the legitimate concerns of communities living near to our proposed construction sites. We remain as committed as ever to working with these residents to ensure that potential disruption is kept to a minimum.”

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive of the river clean up charity Thames21, said:

“This survey gives a voice to the silent majority who agree with plans which are vital for the future of the River Thames.  Not everyone can come out and volunteer with Thames21 to clean and green the Thames, although many thousands do - but this poll shows there is massive and widespread support to build the Thames Tunnel and tackle vile and damaging sewage in our river.”