CORNISH MPS: "FAIRER WATER BILLS FOR THE SOUTH WEST CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER"

2.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th Aug 2008

Along with other water companies across the country, South West Water today presented it's 2010 to 2015 draft business plan to Ofwat, the water regulator. Water bills in the South West are amongst the highest in the country - but this has not translated into relief on increases for customers.

South West Water's draft plan states that the average bill will increase of 1.4% above inflation. With water bills in the region already averaging £700 per year it is clear that South West customers will still face a greater hike in their bills than those in other parts of the country, even though the percentage increase in their bills is less.

Reports that water bills will actually rise by up to 40%, on top of several hefty price increases already this year mean that the question of how far promises of "stable water bills" can be trusted must be asked.

Commenting, Matthew Taylor, MP said:

"Whilst South West Water's proposed increases are less than other water companies, which makes a change, bills here are already unaffordable. The Government urgently needs to implement the changes the Liberal Democrats have proposed to bring water bills down to an affordable level for South West Water's customers. The water regulator, Ofwat, must understand that fairer water bills for the South West can't wait any longer. The unfair system brought in by Conservative water privatisation has to be brought to an end."

Andrew George, MP for St. Ives and the Isles of Scilly, added :

"There's obviously going to be no let up in the pain for local water rate payers. A proportionately lower increase would still see them left with a larger gross increase in their water bills than those in other areas of the country. At some point either the regulator or Government has to step in to give local water customers a fairer deal than they've had since the Conservatives privatised water in the early 90's."