Make Thames supersewer shorter, says new report

Plans for a £3.6 billion "supersewer' were attacked today as council leaders called on the Government to investigate Thames Water's alleged "conflict of interest" over the scheme.

The 20-mile Thames Tunnel would run under the river from Acton to Tower Bridge collecting sewage discharge triggered by rainfall.

A number of councils and residents have voiced anger over the project, which will turn parts of the capital into construction sites for at least seven years. A new report today attacks the Thames Water proposals and said that a shorter, cheaper tunnel would suffice.

Lord Selborne, chairman of the commission that produced the report for Hammersmith and Fulham council, said: "Our forensic analysis shows there is a substantial body of evidence pointing to the fact that there is a smarter way to make the River Thames cleaner.

A shorter tunnel, combined with green infrastructure solutions that are built up incrementally in the medium to long term, would be both compliant with EU directives and less costly and disruptive to Londoners."

The report said that alternatives plans proposed by Jacobs Babtie Engineering for a shorter tunnel would cost half that of Thames Water's favoured option.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: "The Thames tunnel is the most cost-effective long-term solution. The shorter tunnel would not work. It would involve building disruption and bring odour problems for west London."