Thames Water’s new plan to tackle discharge

By JAKE CLOTHIER jake@rdg.today

THAMES Water has published a plan aimed at tackling sewage discharges ... over 25 years.

The Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP), is a strategy which looks to reinforce its infrastructure and management practises to create resilient, sustainable operations, and minimise long-term risks posed by climate change and a growing population.

It follows extensive public consultation and contributions from customers and key stakeholders as water companies come under increasing scrutiny for sewage discharge and environmental impact.

In total,1,400 customer households, 450 non-household customers, 70 local authorities, 50 organisations, the Environment Agency, and numerous environmental groups contributed to the proposals.

Thames Water estimates that just under £32 billion of investment will be required in the next 25 years to overcome what it calls “societal” changes, with £10.9 billion earmarked for tackling storm overflows.

It also says that plans for the Thames Valley will take an approach focusing on removing “unwanted flow,” as it aims to improve the health of rivers and waterways and their ecosystems.

These plans will run alongside the company’s sewer treatment improvement works, which will see £1.6 billion of investment into the modernisation of sewage infrastructure in more than 250 locations over the next two years.

The DWMP also sees proposals for eco-friendly water management in London which include natural methods of water collection and fostering more natural, green spaces in the capital.

The plans will see regular revisions, with Thames Water committing to updates of the plan every five years.

Sarah Bentley, Thames Water CEO, said: “To protect against the challenges ahead of us, from climate change and population growth, we need to work together to provide a resilient and sustainable wastewater service for the next 25 years and beyond.

“We’ve listened closely to our customers and today we’ve set out our

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collective vision for creating a more sustainable and green solutionsbased approach to drainage and wastewater, while providing greater access to our sites and green spaces.

“We’re committed to delivering positive outcomes for our customers, the communities we serve and the natural environment across our region.”

She explained that this would range from creating more “spongy and green spaces” to help prevent flooding in people’s homes, as well as taking action to stop rainwater getting into the sewers, which can cause flooding and overflow.

“However, there are no quick fixes,” she explained: “This plan is the start of our journey to ensure we have systems which are fit for the future.

“Working collaboratively will make a big difference to wastewater activities for future generations and our precious environment.” n Full details of the Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan are available online via: thameswater. co.uk/about-us/regulation/drainageand-wastewater-management

PREPARATORY hearings for the upcoming inquest into the Forbury Gardens terror attack have revealed that deportation of a man was dropped days before he killed three people.

On Monday, Judge Coroner Lord Justice Fulford heard that Khairi Saadallah was set to be deported to Libya, following an arrest in July 2019.

After his arrest for being drunk and disorderly, Saadallah was charged with damaging property and spitting at a detention officer. Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquest, said he had damaged a mattress “by eating it”.

The Home Office delayed his deportation, and instead requested the charges were dropped in an email to Thames Valley Police on May 28, 2020. Prosecutors did so the following day, but on June 4, the Home Office decided that Saadallah could not be deported because of the unsafe conditions in Libya.

Six weeks later, he entered Forbury Gardens in Reading and fatally stabbed James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails.

Nick Harborne, chief executive of Reading Refugee Support Group, said the potential for Saadallah’s radicalisation was seen in 2016. Justice Fulford said at the hearing “no relevant stone will be left unturned”. The inquest is set to go ahead next year.

Office conversion

FORMER offices on Reading’s Oxford Road will be converted into housing, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter Reading Borough Council has approved the conversion of 159 Oxford Road into two maisonettes and one flat.

The owner had permission for a conversion under application reference 161550, but changes were made to window placement and landscaping.

The building used to be offices for the Berkshire CDA.