Water experts from across London on Wednesday night (14 December) debated the Thames Tunnel – and rejected a motion suggesting controlling rainwater near source would be a more cost-effective alternative.
The debate at the Society of Chemical Industry in Belgrave Square was organised by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management (CIWEM) and considered the motion: “This house considers that the Thames Tunnel would be worse value than controlling rainwater near source.”
Proposing the motion were Professor Richard Ashley from Sheffield University and Lord Selborne. Speaking against were Richard Aylard, Thames Water’s External Affairs and Sustainability Director, and David Crawford the Thames Tunnel project team’s resident international expert on combined sewer overflows.
The debate concluded with a vote with eight members of the audience supporting the motion, 48 opposing it and 20 abstaining.
Richard Aylard said: “The overwhelming view from the floor was that it’s not a question of having either the Thames Tunnel or SuDS, we need both.”