Supersewer 'will ruin our Thames view'

Thames Water's supersewer could ruin one of London's most picturesque riverside views, it was claimed today.

Residents are fighting a plan to build the entrance to the Thames Tunnel, London's biggest engineering project, at Barn Elms in Barnes. A 25-metre diameter shaft would be created at the site. The seven-metre-high sewer will run from Acton to Abbey Mills in Newham, following the river at a depth of up to 75 metres.

Residents have launched a campaign to persuade Thames Water to move the proposed site for the shaft. Janet Suckling, 67, said: "The impact will be massive. My house is by the river. The noise will make it incredibly hard to sleep. Thames has told us we will feel the vibration from drilling.

"We lose our playing fields and our towpath: thousands visit each year and in summer it's like the seaside. The plan isn't wrong but it should be on brownfield land."

Susan Boyd, of Barnes Community Association, said: "These fields are used by children, and it would cause major problems for traffic. It's inevitable there will be lorries. We believe some of the other options will work better."

Wandsworth council also vowed to fight the plans. "We have serious concerns over the Barns Elms site, especially the impact on the riverside towpath which has a unique rural character and is extremely popular with local people," said a spokesman. "Thames Water is yet to offer its customers a convincing justification for the colossal costs of the project, land-take and time scales involved in its plans."

Thames Water said the location would minimise disruption. A spokeswoman said: "It allows us to construct the main tunnel shaft, which must be in west London, and connect the tunnel to the nearby combined sewer overflow. We'll carefully consider suggestions and where possible amend our plans."

A current public consultation closes on December 20 at 5pm. Work on the tunnel starts in 2013 and is expected to finish in 2020.