Southport MP Pugh and Solloway Waste No Time at Tideway

Photo: Amanda Solloway

Pugh and Solloway Waste No Time at Tideway

On Wednesday 1 March Dr John Pugh, Member of Parliament for Southport, and Amanda Solloway, Member of Parliament for Derby North, travelled underground into the Fleet Sewer, near Blackfriars Bridge, to explore at first hand Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s* famous London sewer system.

This visit took place as part of their Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) Fellowships** examining the UK’s major new waste and construction projects. The Thames Tideway Tunnel project, which began construction last year, will capture and store raw sewage and rainwater overflows that currently discharge into the River Thames, massively improving the environmental quality of London’s iconic river.

To start the visit, John and Amanda received a briefing on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which outlined the importance of the 16 mile tunnel that will stretch from Acton in West London to Abbey Mills in East London.  Shortly after, both Members of Parliament changed into protective clothing and went underground for a tour of the Fleet Sewer.

Thereafter, John and Amanda participated in an educational boat ride with Tideway on a  Clipper boat down the river to Westminster. Along the way, both members saw the Tideway construction projects currently being undertaken along the banks of the river near Embankment and spoke with Geoff Loader, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Tideway, about the importance of investment into infrastructure projects.

This was the final visit of Dr John Pugh’s IPT Fellowship into waste management and the first visit of Amanda Solloway MP’s Fellowship examining the construction sector.

Commenting on the visit John Pugh MP said:

“Today I learnt a great deal about waste management systems in the UK and the importance of investment in our infrastructure. The Thames Tideway Tunnel is an essential construction project to ensure London’s sewer system is operating effectively and in an environmentally-friendly way. It was a great visit to complete my Fellowship.”

Commenting on the visit Amanda Solloway MP said:

“This major infrastructure project will ensure the UK meets European environmental standards and it was fascinating to see the Fleet Sewer in person. I look forward to further visits examining the subject of construction in the United Kingdom.” 

Geoff Loader, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at Tideway, said:

“It was a great pleasure to show both John and Amanda the vital construction work we’re doing at Tideway. They were both very engaged throughout the day and eager to learn as much as possible about what we’re doing to deliver a cleaner River Thames and a crucial piece of infrastructure for London for generations to come.”

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