SOUTH WEST MPS UP PRESSURE FOR FAIRER WATER

4.12.16pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Jun 2007

South West Water’s top boss, Chris Loughlin, has met with Liberal Democrat MPs as part of their campaign to drive forward a fairer system for water bills.

Due to the Conservative privatisation programme sadly the South West pays the most expensive rates in the country, suffering from disproportionate sewage clean-up costs. The average water bill this year hit £480 – and £650 for unmetered users - compared to £275 in London. Following a long campaign by the region’s Liberal Democrats, however, hopes are high that radical changes to water charging could be on the way, bringing an end to staggering bills for those on low incomes.

The MPs have been pushing for a series of reforms to tackle unaffordable charges. They have been calling for more resources from the Government to ease the high costs of maintaining the South West’s coast line, as 3% of the country currently pays for 30% of the beach clean-up.

Falling short of country-wide redistribution of the costs, however, the Lib Dem MPs have backed a more affordable South West tariff system to ensure ordinary families and pensioners have their bills cut. Metered households in the South West would pay a low rate for the basic amount of water that they need, depending on how many people lived in the house. They would then pay a higher rate for any additional water, for example to have a swimming pool or do a lot of car cleaning.

MP for Truro & St Austell Matthew Taylor commented:

“We are still a way from fair water bills, but after years of campaigning for a drop in what are astronomically high bills there finally appears to be a glimmer of hope. Under pressure the Government has agreed to investigate at least a partial solution to the problem, creating a tariff that eases the burden on the worst off and ensures that second home owners pay what is fair so that bills come down more generally.

“Ultimately, however, it is the Government that must face up to its responsibility to help find a permanent solution to this ludicrous situation, in which the poorest 3% in the country pay for 30% of the beach clean-up.”

Under the MP’s proposed tariff second homeowners, who tend to pay the lowest metered bills despite greatly benefiting from the region’s beaches, would also be identified to ensure they make a fair contribution towards the costs of environmental clean up.

North Devon MP Nick Harvey added:

“The Government may – for the first time – be taking an interest in the plight of hard pressed water customers. But it remains to be seen whether they are ready to take bold actions or dip into public funds to put things right.”