Lib Dem MP Pursues Thames Water over 'Persistant Pong' from Mogden

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jul 2002

Last week, Vincent Cable revisited senior staff at the Mogden Lane sewage treatment works to protest at the continued experience of major smells in St. Margarets and Twickenham: "when it was very wet last year the problems were explained in terms of excessive rain and overflowing storm tanks. But the problems have continued without the rain".

Thames Water reassured him that an additional £3 million will be spent on engineering improvements over the next year and have agreed to set up a regular consultation with local MP's, councillors and residents groups.

Vincent Cable said: "Thames Water insist that they have not under invested and do not have a capacity problem. But they recognise that the situation is serious. Local residents feel they are dealing with a powerful, now German owned, multinational that doesn't listen to them. That must change".