On Tuesday 29th July, over 200 local residents gathered at the Wharf restaurant in Teddington in a show of unity and defiance. Organized by the team from the Wharf, local businesses and SOLAR (Save Our Lands and River), the meeting was more than a protest—it was a declaration of local pride and environmental care
The room buzzed with energy as people picked up and signed protest postcards, bought and displayed bold campaign T-shirts. Leading the charge was Ian McNuff, SOLAR campaign member and former Olympic rower , who made it clear this wasn’t a blanket rejection of all solutions. Instead, he said SOLAR championed smarter, greener alternatives, fixing leaks, deploying smart meters, and utilizing existing water reserves, over what he called a “billion-pound blunder.”
But the most telling moment came from who wasn’t in the room: Thames Water. Their refusal to attend, citing an “unconstructive environment,” was met with audible frustration and disbelief. For many, it was a symbol of the very disconnect they were fighting against. Local MP Munira Wilson captured the mood with a pointed question:
“How can we trust Thames Water when we’ve seen them pump billions of litres of sewage into our river?” The message from the community was unmistakable: We will not let our river become a dumping ground. Read more here