WATER BILLS SET TO FALL

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Aug 2009

Campaigners are claiming victory following news that OFWAT has proposed a 6 per cent cut in water bills over the next five years in the South West. The proposal follows a long running campaign by Julia Goldsworthy MP and other Lib Dem MPs in Cornwall.

Julia said: "While any reduction in bills will come as a huge relief to the many who struggle to pay, we still have a situation where people in Cornwall will continue to pay the highest water bills in the country.

"Under OFWAT's proposals, there are no new plans to assist low income or pensioner households, and no proposals to share environmental clean up costs more fairly across the UK. That means just 3 per cent of the population are left paying to maintain 30 per cent of the nation's beaches.

"Clearly this isn't good enough. The proposed price cut is a step in the right direction, but the campaign goes on until we win a fair deal for all."