A west London sewer ventilation pipe erected by the Victorians came under Phil Stride’s scrutiny on Saturday (26 March).
On his way back from the Boat Race in Chiswick, the Head of London Tideway Tunnels spotted the original feature (pictured), now shrouded by a tree, close to the Hounslow/Hammersmith border.
Unlike the ones being designed to ensure that air can flow through the proposed Thames Tunnel, the Victorians’ structures did not include any odour control equipment.
Phil commented: “Just like our predecessors who created London’s modern-day sewerage network, we will be working hard to ensure that any structures required to let the Thames Tunnel breathe will blend into their local surroundings as much as possible.
“A priority for us right now is to refine the proposals for ventilation ‘stacks’ we presented at the first phase of our public consultation. We are determined to minimise the number of structures required. Where they are needed, we will keep them as small and unobtrusive as possible.
“I want to reassure people concerned about our initial proposals for ventilating the tunnel that they were very much ‘work in progress’. Our final designs are likely to look very different.
“It’s also key to remember that neither the existing sewerage system, nor the current CSO discharges to the river are odour controlled. The Thames Tunnel’s ventilation will have the important benefit utilising the latest technology to minimise the risk of any unpleasant smells.
“The aim of the project is to make London a better place. Nobody wants to solve one problem by creating another one.”
