External consultations

External consultations not run by the Council, but which affect the borough.

Thames Tunnel

Thames Water are proposing the construction of a Thames Tunnel. This is a proposed sewer with a 7.2m diameter tunnel for the collection, storage and transfer of combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It will run up to 20 miles from west to east London, up to 75 metres below ground, broadly following the route of the River Thames. It will connect up to the 34 most polluting sewer overflows, as identified by the Environment Agency, to capture sewage which would otherwise spill into the Thames, before transferring it to the Beckton sewage works to be treated.

As many London Boroughs are concerned over the overall costs of the project and the environmental impacts, the project is to be reviewed by a Panel of Experts.

Impact on the Borough

The tunnel is proposed to have 22 construction sites. Five of these would be main tunnel construction sites combined with CSO connection sites; these would be construction sites for around seven years and one of these proposed sites is Barn Elms (Barnes).

Public consultation

Thames Water has already and will continue to carry out public consultation prior to submission for planning approval. The first round of public consultation took place from 13 September 2010 to 14 January 2011. Thames Water will carry out a second round of consultation later in 2011 on a revised design. Thames Water are intending to submit a full planning application in 2012 and this will be referred to the new Major Infrastructure Planning Unit for determination.

Further information

Further information on the Thames Tunnel can be found on: http://www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk/

Additional information and potential impacts on Barn Elms can be found on: http://www.stoptheshaft.org/

Waste Water National Policy Statement consultation, November 2010

A consultation on new guidelines for considering large-scale waste water infrastructure projects was launched on 16 November 2010 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The consultation on the draft Waste Water National Policy Statement (NPS) lasted until 22 February 2011. The Waste Water NPS will be used by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) when deciding whether such applications should proceed.

The NPS refers to two projects that may be dealt with by the IPC; the proposed treatment works at Deephams in North East London, and the Thames Tunnel which will carry waste water from sewage overflows which currently run into the Thames. Further information on the National Policy Statement can be found on the Defra website.

Rebalancing the Licensing Act

The Coalition Government (Home Office) put out a consultation document(pdf, 360KB) entitled ‘Rebalancing the Licensing Act, a consultation on empowering individuals, families and local communities to shape and determine local licensing’. The Licensing Act brought in by the previous government had made major changes to the legislation covering the sale and supply of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment. After nearly five years of operation the government sought views about a number of proposed changes they sought to make. The Council’s response is available to view(pdf, 35KB). It was the collective views of three of the leading members, each of whom have representative responsibilities directly affected by licensing.