Finance for Mogden Clean Up

11.26.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Jan 2005

In a debate on the future of odour pollution at Mogden yesterday (Tuesday), Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham - who introduced the debate - was told by the Environment Minister, Elliot Morley MP, that over £40m had been approved by the regulator, Ofwat, and the Government for investment at the sewage plant. This will allow Thames Water to complete coverage of most of the Mogden works where odour is generated.

John Sexton, the Managing Director of Thames Water, has written to Vincent Cable to say that the company has not yet finally decided whether to proceed but acknowledges that the work is necessary. Vincent Cable said that: "now that the Minister has confirmed that most of the money is there, Thames Water has to resolve this problem, finally, within the next few years."

The Minister also told Vincent Cable that new legislation passing through Parliament - the Clean Neighbourhood Environment Bill - would include a clause enabling prompt enforcement action to be taken in respect of mosquitoes. He also told Vincent Cable that any fines imposed on Thames Water for creating unacceptable odour pollution would have to be paid by shareholders and not passed onto consumers. Vincent Cable said: "the debate was useful in bringing together the various elements required to improve the environment around Mogden. A lot of progress has been made in the last few years in making the company and Government aware of the problem of odour pollution and I am increasingly confident that residents will see results before long."