FAMOUS THAMES REACH

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 80, 4 April 1930, Page 7

FAMOUS THAMES REACH

PRESERVATION FOR PUBLIC

(From "The Post's" Representatlva.) LONDON, 6th February.

A month ago it was announced that the Middlesex County Council wished to use a large part of the historical Syon Park for the purpose of a sewage works. The property belongs to tho Duke of Northumberland, who, among a large number of other prominent people, voiced his uncompromising opposition to the scheme. .

At a special meeting of the Eivers Committee of the council reference was made to the strong opposition which, the proposal had aroused in the Press/ and from public authorities, and also to the trend of the discussion on the subject at the previous meeting of the council. On that occasion Sir Herbert Nield, M.P., and Sir William Prescott, in particular, spoko strongly against it- •

The scheme for a central sewage works will be proceeded with, but the, committee will endeavour to find another site.

I "The Times" points out the need for constant,. vigilance. "As sometimes happens with experts who liavo to concentrate upon a particular problem—and in this case a difficult .problem—the Eivers Committee seem to haye1 left out of account in all considerations which were not immediately felevant to the practical question before them, and to have worked so strictly according to the map as to ignore everything else. Not a site in Wie entire county, as has been abundantly shown in a month of protests, could have been more unfortunately chosen. It became a matter of national cofcern at once, for there is no reach on the Thames within easy distance of London of comparable majesty, and perhaps none oil. the whole river which has a better claim to be kept exactly as it is. Tho controversy has illustrated once more the need for incessant public vigilance in cases of this sort, and the right of interests other than local to make their voice heard when a change of such a kind is proposed in a district so famous and so much admired." ; '