Super sewer company Tideway partners with Chiswick paddleboarding outfit to teach safe use of River Thames

Paddleboarding on the River Thames; Active 360

Subsidized courses available now on understanding the River Thames and how to use it safely

Tideway, the engineering firm which built the super sewer across London, the Tideway Tunnel, is partnering with Active 360, the paddleboarding outfit based at Kew Bridge, to offer subsidised river-related activities for Londoners.

Active 360 has been based at Kew Bridge for 15 years, since 2011. Director Paul Hyman set the company up to take groups out on the river and teach paddleboarding, but over the years the emphasis has changed, he told The Chiswick Calendar, because the boards have become cheaper and more available.

“Now you can buy an inflatable for £100 from a supermarket, people just tend to go out and buy one and get on the river by themselves”.

What many don’t necessarily realise is how dangerous the tidal River Thames can be, with a huge volume of water coming in and out all the way up to Teddington Lock.

“Not only is it tidal, but the tide behaves differently on different stretches of the river”, Paul told us, so their emphasis has moved away from teaching paddleboarding and renting out equipment and more towards teaching people an understanding the river and how to use it safely.

Paul was first involved with the engineers at Tideway over 20 years ago when both their offices were in Paddington and the staff, engineers, needed an understanding of the river which he was able to supply.

“We took them out and taught them about the river”.

Tideway Tunnel; Photograph Tideway

Cleaning up the river

The Tideway Tunnel was opened in May last year and declared fully operational last August. The deep level sewer runs 25km (16 miles) from Acton in the west to Abbey Mills in the east and is designed to capture almost all the raw sewage and rainwater which enters the river as overflow from the drainage system at times of heavy rain.

Although it does not help with sewage overflow in our part of the river in Chiswick, it stops sewage being a problem in the heart of London, says Paul, and it also stops the tides washing effluent back up the river.

Now construction is complete Tideway maintains the tunnel. Its partnership with Active 360 and London Sports Trust is worth about £50,000 this year and they hope it will continue, to be an ongoing, multi-year project.

Paddle & Pick – litter picking sessions on the river

Active Tideway

The programme, ‘Active Tideway’, will offer a series of subsidised on-water and riverside activities designed to make the river more accessible to people from a wide range of backgrounds.

“Some of this is the kind of thing we are already doing”, says Paul, “but it means we will be able to offer courses at low cost”.

Active 360 runs ‘paddle & pick’ sessions, where participants collect rubbish floating in the river or caught up in the trees and bushes along the shore from paddleboards.

READ ALSO: Paddle & Pick – Active 360 organises litter picking on the river by paddleboard

It also runs natural history tours by paddleboard, pointing out the flora and fauna and explaining the history of how Sir Joseph Bazalgette introduced the original London sewerage system in response to the ‘great stink’.

READ ALSO: A Site of Special Scientific Interest right on our doorstep in west London

Fish stocks have recovered significantly in recent years as a result of cleaner water, despite the problem of overflow from storm drains, to the point where you now see the odd seal in the river.

A cormorant catching an eel; Photograph by Lorraine Conterio

New courses on river safety

Active 360 is adding new courses – introductory courses to the Tideway and safety on the Tideway in a range of on-water and riverside sessions, bookable through their website.

active360.co.uk

They also plan to incorporate newly acquired skills at testing the river water for harmful bacteria.

READ ALSO: Active360 trials prototype river water testing system on the Thames

With the super sewer now in operation, Active Tideway is designed to support a new chapter for the river – one in which more people can get closer to the Thames and benefit from the opportunities it offers.

“This programme is a brilliant opportunity to help people enjoy the river while also understanding why it matters and how they can help protect it,” said Paul.

Natural history tour by paddleboard; Active 360

Access for young people

London Sports Trust was set up to inspire change in young Londoners and parents by educating and cultivating positive change through the power of sport. It helps disadvantaged children and their families to achieve their goals in life, sport and education, and thus improve their opportunities in life.

Ulick Tarabanov, CEO & Founder of London Sports Trust, said:

“At London Sports Trust, we believe everyone should have access to the benefits of sport, physical activity and outdoor experiences, regardless of background or circumstance.