Rugby World Cup: Stench of sewage over Twickenham Stadium 'risks embarrassing UK'

 
Bad smell warning: Twickenham stadium is one of the main venues for the Rugby World Cup this year
Robin de Peyer9 June 2015

The UK could be embarrassed at this year's Rugby World Cup by the stench of sewage at Twickenham Stadium, an MP has claimed.

Unpleasant odours from a sewage works near the home of English rugby in west London could ruin games for spectators, warned Labour's Ruth Cadbury.

The Brentford and Isleworth MP said bad smells had not been shaken off in the area around Mogden sewage works - despite £140m being invested in the plant in 2013.

Twickenham is to host some of the biggest fixtures in rugby when the World Cup kicks off on September 18.

But Ms Cadbury warned during a Commons debate on pollution: "There is a real risk the UK could look rather embarrassing if many matches are spoilt by the stench of sewage floating over the stadium."

She also said that sewage had been seeping into the River Thames near the 82,000 seat stadium.

Mogden sewage plant is the second largest treatments works in the UK and serves around 2.1million people, according to Thames Water which manages it.

A spokesman for Thames Water said: "We’re confident rugby fans will not be turned off Twickenham by odour from our works

"We finished a £140 million upgrade in 2013, installing odour-reducing equipment and covers, and have recently refurbished the odour control units.

"We’ll continue to work closely with Twickenham Stadium and Hounslow and Richmond councils in the run-up to the big event.”

The Evening Standard has contacted England Rugby, which manages the stadium, for a comment.

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