Bermondsey asks MP to save it from 'unacceptable' supersewer

The leader of Southwark council has urged MP Simon Hughes to help stop plans to locate a supersewer construction site in Bermondsey.

Peter John said Thames Water's plan to route the Thames Tunnel through Chambers Wharf was "unacceptable".

He said the council would write to the utility firm to oppose the proposals and called on Mr Hughes, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey, to publicly condemn the scheme.

Putting forward a motion to "save Chambers Wharf", which was passed unanimously at a council meeting on Wednesday, Mr John said: "I will be supporting Simon Hughes to call a debate on this issue at the House of Commons. But as a local MP he should be leading on this campaign. However, he has still not come out in support of the campaign."

Further fears were raised that the proposals will disrupt children at nearby schools.

Nick Tennant from Thames Water defended the plans, adding: "We are carrying out a genuine consultation. We welcome all feedback and people have until February 10 to have their say."