AGM and Thames Tunnel Presentation
The All Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure met on 5 July to hold its Annual General Meeting and witness a presentation on the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Officers of the group were elected as follows:
- Chair, Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP
- Vice-Chair, Lord Chidgey
- Vice-Chair, Graham Brady MP
- Vice-Chair, Naomi Long MP
- Treasurer, Lord Berkeley
- Secretary, Mark Garnier MP
Presentation on Thames Tideway Tunnel
Philip Stride, Head of Thames Tideway Tunnels at Thames Water provided the latest version of a presentation on the project – which had only just been shown to the Environment Minister, Richard Benyon MP and London Council leaders the day before.
Mr Stride outlined the problems which London is currently facing in deal of dealing with wastewater, the preferred route of the Thames Tunnel and sites, scheme cost and the planning process.
APPGI made points and asked questions on a number of questions including the threat of EU fines for river pollution; the proposal to get the scheme considered under the Infrastructure Planning Commission process and the planned movement of excavated materials.
Along with APPGI members a number of interested parties, campaign groups and experts attend to take part in the discussion which followed. Representatives from Thamesbank and the Save the Kings Stairs Gardens group brought up concerns regarding the project including its planned route, impact on green spaces and foreshore enclosure.