We have continued to carry out public consultation work to ensure that our activities are in line with the views of customers and stakeholders.
Our approach to consultation includes independently-facilitated stakeholder workshops, individual discussions with MPs and other stakeholders, surveys and independently-hosted online consultations.
We have continued to hold frequent meetings with MPs and local government representatives during 2009/10, and have held a number of consultation exercises:
After Ofwat's draft response to our 2010 – 2015 spending plans in August 2009, we followed up our initial research into customers' views by consulting with them further.
We sought customers' views on the way in which bills could be affected in the five-year Price Review process.
Focus groups were consulted to see what they thought of our communication plans for our new water treatment works in east London.
Since autumn 2008, we have been consulting the London local authorities who could potentially be affected by the construction of the Thames Tunnel. Other pan-London stakeholders involved in this process include the Environment Agency, the Port of London Authority and the Greater London Authority.
These stakeholders have provided input into the methodology that we are using to identify suitable construction sites. They have also helped us develop our proposals for public consultation for the scheme. In Phase 1 of this, which began in September 2010, we have sought views on our preferred tunnel route and construction sites.
During Phase 2 in 2011 we will consult on the final route and construction sites, prior to submitting our planning applications in September 2011.
Established in March 2009, the Thames Tunnel Forum has continued to provide a valuable forum for dialogue with the local authorities and other pan-London organisations potentially affected by the proposed Thames Tunnel (see Wastewater section), such as the Port of London Authority and English Heritage.
The Thames Tunnel is the biggest and most challenging of our planned London Tideway Improvements, which together will substantially reduce the amount of untreated sewage that can be discharged to the tidal River Thames after rainfall.
This year membership of the Thames Tunnel Forum was extended to cover the London Borough of Ealing as our Acton Storm Tanks, located just within the borough boundary, have emerged as the one of the best sites available to use to construct the tunnel.
Two other organisations joined the Forum this year – the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representing the business community, and the environmental charity Thames21, representing the voluntary sector and River Thames interest groups.
Page externally verified