In response to the Mayor’s announcement of a new £5 million fund for the installation of 100 new water fountains across the capital, Londonwide Assembly Member, Fiona Twycross AM, said:
“It is vitally important that we do all we can to tackle plastic waste in London, particularly as thousands of plastic bottles end up in the River Thames and our waterways every year.
“Even as we enter these colder months, it is essential that all Londoners and visitors are able to keep hydrated on the go. It is very encouraging that this work is happening to significantly expanding the existing network of refill points across the capital.
“I would urge the council, local businesses and organisations to bid for a share of this funding. Securing this funding would mean we could somewhat reduce our impact on the environment, and provide a helping hand to those without a clean or reliable supply of drinking water.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- A joint monitoring programme between the charity, Thames 21, and the #OneLess campaign has revealed that according to the latest count, 55,533 plastic bottles have been removed from the River Thames since 2016;