Water supply switch 'possible'

Borough councillors heard last night there was a chance that householders could get their wish of a change of water supply from Severn Trent but only if there was enough public support.

United Utilities, which takes Lake Vyrnwy water to the north west, has told the council it would be interested in talks over future water supply.

Severn Trent's switching of the area's water supply from the Welsh hills to the River Severn some years ago sparked outrage in Oswestry.

There have been constant complaints from householders since then and last year Severn Trent admitted it was putting too much chlorine in the water. It has since altered the amount and says the situation has stabilised.

But Councillor John Evans told last night's Oswestry Borough Council scrutiny committee that the water quality was still poor.

"There are still complaints – no-one says the water is good," he said.

"United Utilities is keen to offer its services to the people of Oswestry but until those people start phoning and moaning we are going to get nowhere," he added.

A letter from United Utilities to the council said a change of boundary from Severn Trent to them on such a big scale was unprecedented.

But the company was willing to discuss it.