Hundreds of Londoners have once again shown support for a campaign against proposals which could see Barn Elms playing fields become the site of a the super sewer entrance.

More than 400 campaigners, neighbours and users of the site turned out on Saturday, July 17, to take part in a Barn Elms rally and voice concern over the potential use of the greenfield site as part of Thames Water’s London-wide sewer project.

Putney MP Justine Greening said of the rally: "It was great that so many local residents came out in force in spite of the rain to rally against our playing fields being turned into a huge seven year construction site for the Thames Tunnel main drive shaft. It shows how strongly local residents feel about protecting Barn Elms.

"We all want to see the huge sewage overspills into the Thames cleaned up but we need to make sure the Thames Tunnel is built in a sustainable way by using brownfield sites rather than our greenfield playing fields.

"I hope Thames Water will listen to how important Barn Elms is to us and continue to work with us to get a better Thames Tunnel solution for our local community and environment. "　

And the water company, which is constructing the 20-mile city-wide sewage system, assured residents they had taken note of the strong public opposition.

A spokeswoman said: "Locals’ passion for Barn Elms has come across to us loud and clear throughout all the consultation activities we have undertaken to date.

"We respect the organised, professional way in which Stop the Shaft has conducted its campaign [and] we have listened closely to all the feedback we have received – it’s part of the reason we are now considering a possible alternative brownfield site in south Fulham."

The suggestion that one of the drive shaft entrances needed to construct the Thames Tunnel sewage system could be built on the Barnes and Putney border caused uproar among neighbours of the site when it was first mooted in September 2010. If chosen, residents could face construction work 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, for more than three years.

Following a public consultation into potential sites, the Barn Elms proposal attracted more comments than any other London site and the campaign group Stop the Shaft (StS) was set up. Celebrity supporters Anneka Rice and Alistair McGowan signed up to fight against plans.

Saturday’s rally was arranged by MPs Justine Greening and Zac Goldsmith, Wandsworth and Richmond councils and StS. The groups joined to form the Save Barn Elms Alliance group and campaigners were then joined rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio in their bid to make Thames Water take notice of their objections.

Wandsworth Council leader Councillor Govindia said Saturday’s demonstration sent a clear message.

He said: "Thames Water can now be in no doubt whatsoever that selecting greenfield land for a mammoth tunnelling site was a serious mistake.

"Saturday’s rally, coupled with a 13,000 strong petition, makes the prospect of a main drive shaft at Barn Elms simply untenable."

To sign the Save Barn Elms petition, visit wandsworth.gov.uk/savebarnelms.