A two month extension to Thames Water's super sewer planning application has been vetoed by the planning inspectorate.
Thames Water has been refused more time to explain how major super sewer drilling works will affect Londoners after Government planning inspectors asked a series of probing questions about noise, vibration and transport disruption.
The Planning Inspectorate is examining Thames Water’s 100,000 page planning application for the £4.2billion super sewer and raised fundamental questions about how the water company plan to control the impact of noise on local communities.
However, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles MP, refused. He wrote: “We have carefully considered your request and do not consider that the case for an extension is made out.”
Council leader, Councillor Nicholas Botterill said: “The planning inspectors are asking the right questions as the uninterrupted noise, dust and increased river and road traffic should be avoided at all costs.
“Thames Water is proposing to plant a health time bomb beneath south Fulham and the inspectors now need to weigh up the huge human costs of using Carnwath Road against the relatively small inconvenience to some recreational activities if the dig site was switched back to Barn Elms.”
Residents of Fulham's Carnwath road are vehemently opposed to the plans as they feel their quality of life would be destroyed by the drilling.
There are at least 2,500 people living within 250 metres of the dig site at Carnwath Road with some people’s homes within 15 metres. The council has repeatedly voiced concerns about 24/7 noise, dust and air pollution for around 8 years potentially affecting the health and well-being of residents. Five schools are within 700metres of the site with one school, Thomas' on Hugon Road, just 100 yards away. The clogging up of already congested residential streets with HGV traffic has also been a major issued raised by the council.
Thames Water had originally earmarked less than 2 per cent of a vast open space in Barn Elms for its sewer dig but switched to Carnwath Road following pressure from south of the river.
Thames Water argues that their current plan is the best solution to stop diluted rain water and sewage from overflowing into the River Thames when it rains heavily and that a switch back to their original choice in Barnes would delay the delivery of the super sewer and add costs.
The Planning Inspectorate are set to submit a recommendation on whether to approve the super sewer planning application to government ministers, who are expected to make the final decision in autumn 2014.
Phil Stride, head of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, said: “Ideally we would have preferred a little more time but we understand the ministers’ decision. Since we made the request for an extension, we have remained focused on seeking to complete the required documentation to meet the original deadline and are confident we will do this to the highest standard possible.”
