We are all aware now that Thames Water is happy to share data that puts them in a positive light, publicly bragging about the 700 people who attended their 10 consultation events for the Thames Development-Related Sewerage Assessment (TDRA) scheme. However, when it comes to the real measure of public sentiment, the number of official objections, they are suddenly refusing to give us any numbers. We have approached them on numerous occasions to ask for the extent of the feedback, but they have consistently declined to give us the actual objection count.
The Overwhelming Scale of Opposition
Despite Thames Water’s silence, the numbers gathered by community groups tell a staggering story of opposition. The campaign group SOLAR (Save Our Lands And River) alone hand-delivered over 7,544 community comments directly to Ipsos, Thames Water’s consultation agents. From what we are hearing from our supporters, the real total, including responses sent directly to Thames Water, could be up to 14,000 responses the vast majority of which are objections. If true, this represents a historic and overwhelming rejection, potentially exceeding the objection count of any water scheme ever proposed. The period throughout July and August saw an undeniable and resounding ‘No to the Thames Sewage Pump’ from the community.
Thank You: An Effort That Was Truly Brilliant
Once again a huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to every single person who has so got involved so far. To our amazing volunteers who gave their time and energy, those who came to The Wharf meeting, those who staffed SOLAR stands at local events, and all the retail outlets who supported us—you were brilliant. You tirelessly handed out postcards and answered questions, constantly facing the disbelief from residents asking, “I can’t believe they are proposing this.” Your dedication and hard work have created this unprecedented groundswell of opposition. For those interested in the detailed arguments, SOLAR’s full consultation response is available on our website.