Water debacle is ‘not a threat to London’s super-sewer’

The boss of a new London super-sewer has said it is ‘inconceivable’ that Thames Water’s financial troubles will derail it.

Andy Mitchell, chief executive of the Tideway project, said he has ‘no doubt’ the massive concrete tunnel will be completed and used to help clean up the capital when it comes online next year.

The Tideway, which is 25 kilometres long and seven metres wide, has taken eight years to build, at a cost of £4.5billion.

It is designed to cut sewage spills into the Thames by 95 per cent by expanding London’s capacity to hold sewage which is waiting to be treated. Tideway is distinct from Thames Water but is funded by customer bills.

That has raised fears that if Thames collapses the flow of money will stop. But Mitchell was confident the city’s water supply would continue uninterrupted.

Asked if the tunnel, designed to last for 120 years, would go ahead even if Thames collapsed, he said: ‘I’m sure it will. It’s inconceivable that anything else would happen, that wouldn’t make sense.’

• Severn Trent boss Liv Garfield has called on UK utility firms to position themselves as ‘social purpose’ companies to appease the Labour Party and head off any calls for nationalisation.