152. Thames Tideway Scheme Visit

On a very wet Wednesday 17th May, some thirty Members, partners and friends visited the Thames Tideway project for a fascinating presentation and viewing.

This project is enormous – it consists of a 25km long 7.2m diameter tunnel running mostly under the tidal section of the Thames to capture, store and convey combined sewage and rainwater storm discharges that currently flow into the river. Construction started in 2016, will take between seven and eight years to complete and at an estimated cost of £4.2 billion!

Our host was Phil Stride, the Strategic Projects Director. We met at the Thames Tideway East Project Office in Chambers Street in Bermondsey. Phil gave us a very impressive presentation of the history, design, public consultation, unique financial funding and early construction of the project. Phil has been involved for over 10 years and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the scheme. Philip Fletcher (ex Chairman of OFWAT) who is an Honorary Member of our Company was present and he added to Phil’s presentation by giving a regulators view of the project.

We were then able to view the Chambers Street site which is a key location for tunnels drives and which will, on completion, be developed for riverside apartments.

A fascinating visit and many thanks to Phil for giving up his time for us. We look forward to returning is two years time when it might be possible to visit one of the tunnel boring machines in action!

Photographs show Phil Stride chatting to our Members, visitors viewing the construction works at Chambers Street and preparations for sinking the massive shaft at the site.