A SUCCESSFUL fitness club owner fears for his business if residents take up an offer to leave the area while the super sewer is built.

Thames Water admitted last month that building work for the proposed 20-mile-long tunnel under the Thames will disrupt the community for up to seven years, and have offered to give Carnwath Road residents temporary accommodation.

That is bad news for Dario Carabba, owner of the Energie fitness club, who says most of his 1,100 members are from the immediate area.

“If they go, so does most of my business,” said Mr Carabba. “We have been growing every year since I opened nearly seven years ago and this would definitely have a big effect.”

Traffic in the area is expected to increase because lorries will be needed to transport material, and Mr Carabba thinks that could put off cyclists travelling to the club from further afield.

“My bike racks are always full,” he said. “But this road is already dangerous. When a load of lorries start coming down here it’s going to be crazy.”

The entrance to the club is opposite where the building site will be if Thames Water gets permission. But while the company has made provision for homeowners during the work, Mr Carabba says he has not been consulted or approached.

He said: “I’m incredulous because this project will affect businesses just as much as residents. We are in the line of fire but it’s as if we don’t exist. Thames Water has spent two years coming out saying this won’t have any negative impact, but that is clearly not the case.”

Amendments to the junction with Wandsworth Bridge Road would be made to make the roads safer if the scheme gets the go-ahead, according to Thames Water.

A spokesman added: “In line with government policy on building major infrastructure, we will work to reduce noise from our sites and reduce noise affecting nearby premises by, for example, fitting secondary glazing.

“We expect to have to offer only a small number of people alternative accommodation during the 24-hour working phase of the project, so we do not foresee there being a major impact on trade locally.”