Riverside residents in Fulham have formed a protest group against the proposed construction of the super sewer in their area, as the war of words between Thames Water and Hammersmith and Fulham Council escalated.

The group – Residents Against Thames Sewer (RATS) – is desperate to stop Thames Water building a section of the 20 mile-long sewage tunnel from a huge shaft in Carnwath Road, south Fulham.

It says the project, which could take up to seven years to complete, will generate unbearable noise and pollution from digging equipment and is completely unsuitable for a built-up area.

And it has support from the council, a vehement opponent to the scheme, which says the brownfield site is too small – according to Thames Water's own specifications.

In the latest bout of claim and counter-claim between the two parties, the authority, which is worried the project will disrupt its plans for the area's regeneration, cites a document drawn up more than a year ago in which the utility firm said it needed construction sites sized between 18,000-20,000 square metres. Carnwath Road is 16,000 square metres.

Accusing Thames Water of 'not doing its homework', deputy leader Nick Botterill called on the company to 'see sense' and abandon its plans for the area.

Thames admits it did originally think it needed a bigger site – but says changes to the proposed diameter of the tunnel between Fulham and Acton, as well as its research into the riverbed's soil, now means it requires no more than 15,000 square metres for a construction shaft.

A spokesman said the project is evolving all the time and denied a further council allegation it was earmarking other sites in Fulham in case it decided against using Carnwath Road.

He added: "We would not be considering the Carnwath Road site if we did not believe it was suitable."

Thames did confirm it would have to build a 15 metre-wide jetty towards the centre of the river to allow construction boats to continue working while the tide is out.

Meanwhile, RATS spokeswoman Alex Schniewind, who lives in Beltran Road: "We can't let big business dictate a decision that will harm our health, our quality of life and our property values - all paid for from our own pockets with absolutely no chance to have our voices heard."

* Thames Water will launch the second phase of their consultation later this year.

* To find out more about RATS, whose next meeting happens on May 11, email RATSinSouthFulham@gmail.com