MPs STEP UP CAMPAIGN FOR FAIRER WATER BILLS

3.00.00pm GMT Fri 8th Jan 2010

A Parliamentary motion has been tabled to support fairer water bills for people in the South West.

The Early Day Motion has been tabled by Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy and signed by all of Cornwall's MPs. It calls on both the Government and water regulator Ofwat to progress the recommendations of the independent report into water charging by Anna Walker.

South West Water customers currently endure the highest bills in the country, around £150 above the national average. This was caused by the botched privatisation of the utility in the 1980s that left local people paying for the up-keep of the vast stretch of coastline in the region.

The Walker Report recognises for the first time that the South West is a special case. Its proposals to tackle affordability include a one-off Government cash injection, a charge to all water rate payers nationally or an additional summer usage charge.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"After the welcome report by the Walker Review that finally recognised the unfair deal Cornwall has put up with for years, it's now up to the Government to act.

"Cornwall's MPs will continue to keep the pressure on - this issue is not going to go away, so the Government must announce as quickly as possible how it will implement the report's recommendations."