More than 16,000 people have put pen to paper in a bid to finally quash proposals for a super sewer entrance built on a popular greenfield London site.

Residents from across the capital rallied together to sign a petition, opposing Barn Elms being listed as a preferred sewer entrance location, which was handed to Head of London Tideway Tunnels, Phil Stride, on Wednesday, August 17.

Thames Water, which is constructing the new 20-mile super sewer, assured concerned residents it remained committed to ensuring everyone’s views were heard and reiterated a full second stage consultation would start in the autumn.

But members of campaign group Stop the Shaft said it was important to continue fighting proposals until the site, located on the Barnes and Putney border, was taken off the table as an option.

Sian Baxter, chairman of Stop the Shaft, said: “The social cost of losing Barn Elms must be factored into Thames Water’s decision.

“An alternative brownfield site has been identified, a site that has been derelict for more than a decade and serves no public purpose. This must be deemed more suitable than ruining public playing fields and wrecking one of London’s most beautiful natural areas.”

Barn Elms was first listed as a potential site for constructing a drive shaft to give access to sewer drilling equipment last year, a proposal which caused public uproar as playing fields, a sports centre and boat house used by homeowners across west London as well as surrounding schools, are all currently located on adjacent parts of the site.

Issues concerning residents about the construction of the tunnel included worries the site was greenfield land and building a sewer entrance on it would mean 24-hour-a-day construction work seven-days-a-week for three years.

Since objections were first aired, an alternate brownfield site at Carnwath Road, Fulham, has been mooted as an option for the sewer entrance.

Thames Water has not made a decision on the sewer entrance site and maintained it was still listening to views.

A spokesman said: “We are very grateful to everybody who has taken the time to meet with us and submit feedback. This is fundamental to ensure that we deliver the most suitable solution, meeting the aims of the project, while providing best value for money and keeping disruption to a minimum.

"We are also considering the use of Carnwath Road riverside in Fulham as an alternative to Barn Elms.”