Mogden 'Pong' Residents Hit Out

10.42.17am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2003

Vincent Cable MP for Twickenham

Residents from Isleworth and Twickenham expressed frustration at the latest meeting with Thames Water management at delays in the installation of new odour reducing equipment that will not now become operational until the late autumn.

The delays - due to hold ups in equipment delivery from

the US - will mean that another summer of 'pongs' will be experienced without the benefit of Mogden management's £5 million investment.

In addition there was concern over continued mosquito nuisance from the plant, aggravated by warnings from the government's Chief Medical Officer that new and lethal mosquito born diseases like West Nile Disease (which kills 200 people a year in the USA) could be on the way to the UK.

Vincent Cable, MP, who chaired the meeting, said that: "Thames Water has, in the last year, made a stronger commitment to odour and mosquito control, but the problems continue. The local management are taking the flak for many years of neglect and under investment by the company.

Residents are paying the price in a diminished quality of life".

"Thames Water no accepts, in a way it didn't until recently, that

mosquitoes are its responsibility. It really has to get on top of this problem before lethal strains enter the British population".