Minister to look at cutting bills for new water strategy

4.15.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 5th Dec 2007

Ministers have agreed to investigate proposals designed to deliver more affordable water rates and more environmental approaches to water supply, following pressure from Cornwall and Devon's Lib Dem and Labour MPs. The Government will publish its new water strategy in the New Year.

In a cross-party meeting with Phil Woolas today (Wednesday) attended by Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs the Minister agreed to consider their calls for more affordable tariffs for the county as part of the Periodic Review of Water Prices (PR09).

Cornwall suffers from the highest water bills in the country, and the average bill in the South West this year has been £480 (£650 for unmetered users) compared to the £275 average in London. This is a direct result of the Conservative Party's privatisation of water.

Lib Dem MPs have been pushing for a solution to the sky high water rates, calling for a series of reforms to tackle unaffordable charges. As part of a long-term solution they advocate redistributing the costs of cleaning up the country's beaches more fairly across the country. However, so far both Conservative and now Labour Ministers have ruled out national financial aid for the South West, despite 3% of the population paying to maintain 32% of England and Wales' coastline.

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat MPs are calling for changes to bills to ensure ordinary families and pensioners don't subsidise other users who use large amounts of water for swimming pools etc. Ministers have agreed to look further into this possibility as part of the Periodic review. The first Ofwat consultation is set to end on January 24 2008.

The MPs also pushed the Minister to commit to green reforms to water provision, with less emphasis on energy intensive end of pipe sewerage treatment, an option that would cut bills.

Commenting, Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro & St Austell said:

"Sky high bills have been hitting South West Water customers ever since privatisation by the Conservatives. It is time Labour stopped prevaricating and tackled this issue head on. They say they are worried about pensioners and child poverty, but in the South West they won't tackle either until they cut our unfair and unaffordable water bills."

Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy added:

"There is a powerful consensus calling for more affordable bills in the South West. Today's meeting with the Minister showed this as it was attended by cross party MPs and the Chief Executive of South West Water.

"The Minister's acceptance that there is a need for a 'policy step change' on this issue is welcome and further representations will be made to him ahead of the publication of his water strategy in January next year."