The Port of London Authority awards £50,000 to support local river clean-ups and the transition to Net Zero

The Port of London Authority (PLA) has today invested £50,000 into six community projects, including £17,500 for two initiatives supporting citizen scientists to detect pollution in the river and a £13,500 scheme to tackle ‘range anxiety’ for those running electric boats by installing a new river vessel charging point in Hammersmith.

The PLA’s Thames Environment Fund – now in its fourth year – invites community groups and academics to put forward innovative ideas to help protect and improve the River Thames.

Funding of £2,490 will help track eel migration from the Kent Marshes into the River Thames and £9,059 will support the restoration of Deptford Creek.  

The Furnivall Sculling club has been awarded £7,500 to replace two petrol boats with electric boats and add a charging point, helping to cut emissions and support efforts to decarbonise the river.

PLA Director of Sustainability Grace Rawnsley said:

“We want to see a clean, healthy, thriving River Thames. We understand the valuable contribution residents and experts can offer, and we’re committed to supporting innovative projects that will revitalise and enhance the river’s natural environment.”  

The PLA’s Thames Environment Fund is an annual program that has awarded a total of £114,000 to 20 community environmental projects over the last four years.

The PLA has vision for a clean river, free of sewage, waste and other pollution, supporting greater biodiversity and recreational use. As set out in the PLA’s Net Zero River Plan, we aim to decarbonise the River Thames by 2040.

Find out more about the Thames Environment Fund.