MANY Islington residents will have been horrified recently to be made aware of the millions of tonnes of raw sewage pumped into the Thames every year. It is disgusting, kills wildlife and is a health hazard for river users. Londoners and Olympic athletes
MANY Islington residents will have been horrified recently to be made aware of the millions of tonnes of raw sewage pumped into the Thames every year. It is disgusting, kills wildlife and is a health hazard for river users. Londoners and Olympic athletes deserve better.
Fortunately, though only after much foot-dragging, the Thames "super-sewer" is finally to be built to stop the overflows. There will be some disruption from the construction, and planners must keep that to a minimum. But having a 21st century sewage system will be a great benefit.
Progress is thanks to EU clean water standards that we signed up to many years ago. The Labour government brushed aside these laws for years, and things only got moving when Europe got tough.
I'm delighted that the coalition government has given its backing to the new tunnel. London will be cleaner and healthier thanks to Europe.- Sarah Ludford MEP, Liberal Democrat Euro-MP for Islington, St Peter's Street, N1.
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