Sadiq Khan pledges to make the Thames 'swimable' within ten years

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to make the River Thames “swimable” within ten years, as part of his plan to transform the waterways of the capital.
The former Labor Party minister called the river a "national embarrassment" as his own analysis published this year found that the duration of sewage spills in London has almost quintupled in 2023.
Recognizing the enormous challenge the capital still faces. Undeterred by his “lunar plan”, Mr Khan told The Sunday Times: “We won’t do this overnight. It will take us a few years – but the great thing is that there is an appetite from Londoners and campaigners. »
His announcement echoes a proposal from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to reopen the Seine to swimmers. create an Olympic legacy for the city. The river is currently being cleaned so that the swimming events of the 2024 games can take place later this year in its waters.
The opening of London's new 'super sewer', worth £5 billion, 16 miles, this summer is what is giving environmentalists hope that the condition of the River Thames will improve. The Tideway Tunnel will join 34 storm drains and divert wastewater to a treatment plant in east London, reducing the amount of waste pumped into the river, engineers say.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to make the River Thames 'swimmable' within a decade as he plans to transform the capital's waterways (PA)
It comes as TV naturalist Steve Backshall called the Thames "toxic" last week.
Mr. Backshall, who lives near the river, told the BBC: "I've lived here for ten years, I've been kayaking this part of the river for at least 25 years, and what is this? what has happened over the last few years is absolutely heartbreaking At the moment I would not go in the river, and I would seriously ask anyone who is a wild swimmer, or anyone who uses the river in any capacity. or, to stay out of it until we give him a chance to escape..

Politics Apr 22, 2024 0 5 Add to Reading List

Sadiq Khan pledges to make the Thames 'swimable' within ten years

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to make the River Thames “swimable” within ten years, as part of his plan to transform the waterways of the capital.

The former Labor Party minister called the river a "national embarrassment" as his own analysis published this year found that the duration of sewage spills in London has almost quintupled in 2023.

Recognizing the enormous challenge the capital still faces. Undeterred by his “lunar plan”, Mr Khan told The Sunday Times: “We won’t do this overnight. It will take us a few years – but the great thing is that there is an appetite from Londoners and campaigners. »

His announcement echoes a proposal from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to reopen the Seine to swimmers. create an Olympic legacy for the city. The river is currently being cleaned so that the swimming events of the 2024 games can take place later this year in its waters.

The opening of London's new 'super sewer', worth £5 billion, 16 miles, this summer is what is giving environmentalists hope that the condition of the River Thames will improve. The Tideway Tunnel will join 34 storm drains and divert wastewater to a treatment plant in east London, reducing the amount of waste pumped into the river, engineers say.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to make the River Thames 'swimmable' within a decade as he plans to transform the capital's waterways (PA)

It comes as TV naturalist Steve Backshall called the Thames "toxic" last week.

Mr. Backshall, who lives near the river, told the BBC: "I've lived here for ten years, I've been kayaking this part of the river for at least 25 years, and what is this? what has happened over the last few years is absolutely heartbreaking At the moment I would not go in the river, and I would seriously ask anyone who is a wild swimmer, or anyone who uses the river in any capacity. or, to stay out of it until we give him a chance to escape..