Villagers to fight on over water bill

Tuesday 2nd June 2009, 12:00PM BST.

Villagers near Oswestry who pay £150 more for their water charges than other areas have vowed to continue their fight to have the extra charge axed.

Residents in Weston Rhyn and some of those in neighbouring St Martins pay the extra because of a billing anomaly.

Although Severn Trent supplies their water service and treats the waste water, the public sewers that their homes drain into belong to Welsh Water.

Because its drains are being used, Welsh Water imposes a £150 standing charge on the residents – a charge no other area in Shropshire has to pay.

Weston Rhyn Parish Council has spearheaded a campaign against the “grossly unfair” charge.

Roger Dyke, council clerk, has written to Welsh Water, watchdog Ofwat, North Shr-opshire MP Owen Paterson and the European Parliament to try to have the charge ditched.

Mr Dyke said today the authority had now received a letter from Ofwat saying it would investigate the issue.

Mr Dyke said: “Ofwat has said it would look at the issue. The letter would be presented to Monday’s meeting of the parish council. We will decide what to do next in the campaign at the meeting.”

In previous correspondence to the council, Welsh Water bosses said all its customers pay the same fixed standing charge and rate no matter where they live.

View more: Weston Rhyn news.