Thames Water to Eject Travellers from Fulham Super Sewer Site
While BBC reporter is attacked by men who have moved into Carnwath Road
Thames Water says it intends to start legal proceedings to eject travellers from its "super sewer" site on Carnwath Road in Fulham.
The travellers, in 16 caravans, moved into the site on the evening of Tuesday, November 3.
On November 5, Jonathan Savage, a reporter from BBC Radio London visited the site and says he was threatened and attacked by some of the travellers.
He tweeted @JSavageTweets: " Just been hit and threatened with violence "I'll break your face" & made to delete photos by travellers occupying Super Sewer site in Fulham.
"Was hit on the leg and back with a heavy stick by a boy while a man threatened me. Another man then put his head against mine and threatened.
" Was on Carnwath Road in Fulham at the time. Council says they are serving eviction notices.
" Story is that controversial super sewer site was reportedly occupied. Went down to see if it was protesters or travellers. I found out!"
Police were called to Carnwath Road, off Wandsworth Bridge Road, at 9.40pm on November 3 after receiving reports that caravans were entering the site without permission.
However, they had no powers to move the occupants on, as the land is privately owned.
The following day, the company's delivery manager Steve Wilkinson sent a letter to local residents living around the riverside site, saying: " You may be aware that yesterday evening a number of people gained entry to our site and have taken up an illegal occupation.
" I wanted to let you know that we have been in contact with the police and are starting legal proceedings to evict the occupiers."
This open site is highly controversial, with local residents and H&F Council fighting plans by Thames Water to use it for their main drive shaft for the Thames Tideway Tunnel, or super sewer.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is challenging the decision made last year by Secretary of State Eric Pickles to allow the shaft's construction to go ahead.
You can read more about this here and more about Thames Water's plans for the site here.
Local residents meanwhile have formed the Carnwath Coalition, who have described the government's go ahead for the scheme as
"an absolute mockery of the planning system."
The Carnwath Road Coalition, formed to challenge Thames Water’s decision to site a main draft shaft in Carnwath Road, represents a large number of local groups and residents, including RATs (Residents Against the Thames Sewer), PRARA, (Peterborough Road and Area Residents Association, HDRA, (Hurlingham and District Residents Association), The Fulham Society, The Parsons Green Club, Wandsworth Bridge Traders Association, St Matthews Church Wandsworth Bridge Road, Riverside West Residents Association, Regent on the River Residents Association, and Battersea Reach Residents Association.
November 6, 2015
