Mayor of London publishes ten-year river clean-up plan

(by Karma Loveday)

The Mayor of London has published a Clean Rivers and Waterways Plan – a ten-year vision for waterways that are cleaner, richer in wildlife, easier to access and better connected to the communities around them.

The plan – which the Mayor’s office described as “the beginning of one of the world's most ambitious urban waterway clean-up efforts” – contains 48 actions and 17 goals, to be delivered by 2036. Priorities include making London a “swimmable” city; no toleration of sewage pollution; reviving nature, lost rivers and habitats; making waterways welcoming and accessible; and giving Londoners more powers to protect their waterways.

Delivering and funding the plan will be a cross-sector project involving government bodies, boroughs, regulators, water companies, environmental organisations, landowners, businesses and communities.

While action will take place across London, early investment – of £6.5m from the Mayor and £4m from the Green Roots Fund – will focus on ten strategic locations where coordinated action can deliver significant improvements for people and nature: Grand Union Canal, River Brent catchment, Yeading Brook, Lower Crane Valley, Wandle catchment, Ravensbourne catchment, River Roding, Lower Lea Valley and Royal Docks, Upper Lea Valley, and Salmons Brook and Pymmes Brook.