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Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox Challenges South West Water on Local Water Bills

Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, met the Chief Executive of South West Water, Chris Loughlin, at Westminster last week to discuss the recent Ofwat settlement and its effect on local water bills.

The MP pressed South West Water to do more to mitigate water prices in the South West and asked for a report on its efforts to introduce fairer systems of pricing . A recent review, the Walker Report, commissioned by the government, has set out a number of ways to address this issue, including charging more for water used in the summer, or a one-off payment from the Government. However, the MP was told all of the proposals have significant practical problems, and that the seasonal price variation would hit tourist businesses particularly hard.

The Chief Executive said that he had been invited by the Conservatives to make proposals for reducing the burden on South West consumers and he assured Geoffrey Cox that he was working closely with Conservative front bench spokesmen on practical ways of doing so should there be a change of government.

The pair also discussed the continued problems regarding sewerage in Great Torrington and Holsworthy, where strain on the system has resulted in the discharge of raw sewage over manhole covers and into the streets.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Cox said, “I had an extremely helpful and productive meeting with Chris Loughlin. We discussed the sewerage troubles still plaguing Great Torrington and Holsworthy. While I understand that money has already been allocated to try to resolve this issue, Mr Loughlin said he would look into the situation personally.

“I am all too aware of the frustration and irritation that water bills cause in our part of Devon, and while we regularly correspond, I took the opportunity to raise the subject with Mr Loughlin in person. While I am glad that the recent Walker Report acknowledged that this is a serious problem which needs an urgent solution, I am disappointed that more practical conclusions were not reached.

“I am also disappointed that the Walker report did not take more seriously the proposed ‘Rising Block’ tariff, which would be an effective way of cutting non-essential water use and reducing people’s bills. I understand that South West Water will be introducing such a system on a trial basis later this year, and will be monitoring the results very closely.”