Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government
London borough brands super sewer plans 'arrogant' and 'ludicrous'
Thames Water's plans to press ahead with a 20-mile-long "mega tunnel" - which will disrupt land earmarked for new housing - has been branded "arrogant" and "ludicrous", by a London borough.
Hammersmith and Fulhman Council (H&F) has reacted angrily to the £4.1bn Thames Tunnel 'super sewer' scheme - which aims to deal with excessive rainfall - and have welcomed the decision by the Mayor of London to call for an independent review of the project.
The largest number of objections to the plans, says the council, came from residents around Carnwath Road – who oppose the use of the densely populated Fulham riverside which had been earmarked for new homes and jobs.
The council says residents don't want the site to be used and object to the area being swallowed up for heavy sewer digging work 24 hours a day, seven days a week for at least six years.
Cllr Nick Botterill, H&F Council Deputy Leader, says: “The south-east of England gets more rain than numerous places across the world that are not enduring a hosepipe ban. The reason we have a hosepipe ban here is not because it doesn't rain enough but because Thames Water is not managing the water supply effectively.
"The super sewer is a prime example of the failure of sustainable water management in the UK. Instead of capturing the fresh rainwater and using it productively, Thames Water is allowing it to flow into the sewer network where it mixes with sewage causing problems for the River Thames. Thames Water's solution is to charge customers £100 a year extra forever to raise billions of pounds to dig a massive concrete pipe. This massive sewer will divert the combined rainwater and sewage 20 odd miles to east London - only for it to be treated and put back into the river.
“This is neither a green nor sustainable approach and is certainly not a good use of £4.1billion when money is tight. The fact that Londoners are enduring a hosepipe ban when Thames Water is allowing fresh water to simply go down the drain is crazy and reveals their misguided approach to water management.
“To compound this hair-brained approach Thames Water is now completely ignoring the Mayor of London, the local council and thousands of residents by confirming the use of a tight knit residential area as their main sewer construction site.”
A Thames Water spokesman said that there were "no easy" choices to make in terms of sites.
He said: "We've got to put in place a sewer system fit for purpose. It isn't at the moment. From the recent consultation feedback we had we were instructed to use brownfiled land and to use the river as much as we can which made the Carnwath site suitable."
He said that the scheme would add around £80 a year to the average Thames Water Bill.
Phil Stride, Head of London Tideway Tunnels at Thames Water, said: “In the 18 months since we first began public consultation for the project, we have worked extremely hard to consult people potentially affected.
"First and foremost, we are very grateful to everyone who has let us know their views, both for and against the project or the preferred sites. I can personally assure everyone who participated in the process that every step of the way we have carefully taken on board the content of every feedback form, every letter and every petition we have received.
"Most importantly, where possible we have made changes to reflect the concerns people have raised. The new targeted consultations for our proposed sites at Barn Elms, Putney Embankment, Victoria and Albert Embankment are evidence of our ongoing determination to listen and make changes where they are practically possible within the scope of this critical but challenging project.
"Unfortunately, there are no easy or disruption-free options for building this much-needed piece of infrastructure, but we remain as determined as ever to reduce the impacts at the proposed sites as much as possible, whilst ensuring we deliver value for money.
"During phase two consultation for example a wide number of individuals and organisations called on us to use the river more to transport materials to and from during the construction phase. We have taken this on board and are now proposing to transport an additional 425,000 tonnes of materials, and 11 per cent increase compared to the proposals made at phase two consultation."
Source: www.24dash.com
Sussex business chief's shock exit stuns bosses (From The Argus) - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex business chief's shock exit stuns bosses
4:30pm Tuesday 22nd May 2012 in News By Bill Gardner
Business leaders have reacted with shock after Sussex’s chamber of commerce announced the departure of its chief executive.
Sussex Enterprise last night announced that after an “extensive review of all operations”, boss Mark Froud would be “moving on to new challenges”.
Trevor Freeman, chairman of Brighton’s Federation of Small Businesses, said he was “very surprised” by the news.
He said: “I personally thought that Mark did a really good job. He was excellent at what he did.
“We had noticed that he had stopped coming down to the local economic partnership meetings so we were wondering what was going on.
“But you always knew where you were with Mark and it’s certainly a shame that he’s gone.”
Mr Froud led Sussex Enterprise for almost ten years after first joining in 1996 as director of economic research.
In 2001 he became director of policy responsible for planning and media relations before becoming chief executive in 2002.
When the coalition government scrapped regional development agencies, Sussex Enterprise lost a contract to deliver advisory services and a large chunk of its income.
Mr Froud caused controversy in February when he said residents and businesses in East Sussex had “lower aspirations” than those in West Sussex.
Peter Jones, chairman of East Sussex County Council, said he had disagreed with Mr Froud on many occasions but was sad to see him go. He said: “When he said what he said about East Sussex we had a face-to-face conversation and sorted it out. That’s the way it was with Mark. He has put a lot of effort into his work so I’m surprised that he has gone.
“But I would say that in Sussex we are seeing a resurgence of local chambers of commerce so I think Sussex Enterprise now has to find a real role for itself.”
A Sussex Enterprise spokeswoman said: “Sussex Enterprise has over the last few months undertaken an extensive review of all operations and concluded that major changes are needed to re-emphasise and expand our core membership services.
“In today’s difficult trading conditions companies of all sizes need the opportunities to come together regularly and share information, learn from each other and find new ways to improve their businesses.
“Mark Froud who led the organisation for many years will be moving on to new challenges and we all wish him well.”
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
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