Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-10-25-Speech-2-232"
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"en.20051025.21.2-232"2
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".
I shall do whatever I can within my remit, which is to see that the requirements of the directive are met. Of course, I shall work with you in order to help London, as you stressed in your question, avoid the embarrassment that this pollution from overflows of raw sewage would cause to the 2012 Olympics. It is interesting to know that, if the problem is not resolved by then, the site of the proposed athletes’ village will overlook the overflow at Abbey Mills, with its associated smells and unsightly mess.
It cannot be ruled out that athletes may be allowed to practise on the Thames or that events may take place on the river itself. The Commission is unable to take a position on the arrangements being made in London for the 2012 Olympics. I must repeat that our only involvement is to ensure that the requirements of the directive concerning urban waste water treatment are met.
You are right to say that these spills occurred not only during the very heavy rainfall in August 2004. According to an Environment Agency press release, these spills occur about 50 to 60 times a year. The Environment Agency, which is an adviser to the UK Government, has also reached the conclusion that the system of collection and treatment is inadequate. There were some suggestions on how to solve this problem. One was an interceptor tunnel underneath the river Thames, which would be about 20 miles long and would take about ten years to construct.
The Directive on Urban Waste Water Treatment is a results-based directive and so it is not my business to suggest what method the British Government should choose to solve the problem. That is a matter for the Government. But there is a problem and we have therefore started infringement proceedings against the United Kingdom. In December we will see whether we should proceed with the reasoned opinion in order to persuade the United Kingdom authorities to take the appropriate measures to carry out the infrastructure works necessary in order to treat the water in an acceptable way.
My final point is that, if untreated sewage is discharged into the river, then the Thames estuary, which is an important wetland, will be endangered."@en1
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