Government intervenes over surface water charges

29/09/2009

Community groups are to receive discounts on surface water drainage costs after the government announced it is to negotiate concessions with water businesses.

Among those that will benefit from the move are churches, sports clubs and youth groups, environment secretary Hilary Benn said.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Brighton, he remarked that it "isn't right" that these groups have been the subject of "huge increases in their water bills".

"We will legislate to allow water companies to run concessionary schemes for these organisations," Mr Benn told delegates at the event, which ends on October 1st.

The legislation will be introduced as part of the Flood Water Management Bill, which will be presented in the next session of parliament.

According to the BBC, some community groups have seen the cost of their water bills rise by as much as 1,300 per cent as a result of the surface water drainage charges.

Over 45,000 people signed an e-petition calling for action to be taken on the issue, with the Scout Association estimating that the charges could be costing it £1.5 million.