Kingston and Surbiton MP steps in to fight for Surbiton Filter Beds

Kingston and Surbiton MP Ed Davey has stepped in to campaign against the development of the Surbiton filter beds on Portsmouth Road.  

Davey's urging local residents to support The friends of Seething Wells, a community group with ideas on how to preserve the environment. 

in April last year, Hydro Properties put forward plans to build 64 floating homes a new marina, visitor centre, nature reserve, houseboat moorings and a new riverside public footpath.  

The controversial plans are going up against laws which protect Metropolitan Open Land, which is the urban equivalent to green belt space. 

Kingston and Surbiton MP, Ed Davey says: " Surbiton's filter beds are simply too special to sacrifice to flats, car parking, a marina and restaurant.  It is a 'blue lung' for our riverside, with precious birds and bats and a unique and world important history" 

Friends of Seething Wells spokesperson, Simon Tyrrell says: "We're delighted with the support from Mr. Davey and the support of the community." 

"We're making clear that the area does need opening up, it needs sprucing up, but this proposal will cause damage to the heritage and the ecology"