Tonight:
5°c
£25m pump scheme to protect basements from sewer floods
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor10 Mar 2010
Basements in one of London's most wealthy neighbourhoods are to be protected from sewer flooding by a £25 million pump scheme.
Thames Water is trying to stop filthy water gushing into homes in Holland Park and Kensington during storms. In one of the worst examples 450 homes in the area flooded.
The problem is caused by the Victorian sewer pipes that carry the Counters Creek tributary of the Thames being overwhelmed by cloud bursts.
Thames Water plans a £25million “short-term” fix over the next five years for local pumps to force sewage into the roads rather than homes.
It is also researching a new sewer for 2014, but this will cost “hundreds of millions” of pounds.
Sally Mizani, chairwoman of Holland Park West Residents' Association, said: “These pumps will not solve the problem. Some people are getting six feet of sewage and ground water almost annually.”
Reader views (1)
Are these the same homes that have installed Fritzl-style basement extensions following the recent London fad?
- Bloke, Lambeth, 10/03/2010 14:20
Report abuse
