Wirral water bills set to rise (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral water bills set to rise

10:21am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Stephanie Cureton

WATER company United Utilities has pledged to make £100m worth of improvements to its services over the next year – but bills are set to rise again.

Bosses have promised spend cash on schemes which will reduce water leaks and sewer flooding, safeguard water supplies and help protect rivers and bathing waters. 

It is claimed some 9,000 construction jobs will be created as part of the programme, with around £7bn being pumped into the North West economy.

But the company warned average household water bills are set to rise from April 1 to around £406, up £13 on last year, largely due to inflation.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said United Utilities should consider customers’ financial struggles.

She said: “Because of George Osborne’s poor handling of the economy, people are seeing their wages being held down and food prices are going up.

“The last thing they need is for their water bills to also increase.”

Gary Dixon, United Utilities' customer services director, said: "The small increase in prices this year is due largely to the rise in inflation.

“Even so, customers in the North West will still be paying around £1 per day, about the same as a loaf of bread, for all their water and sewerage services.

"We'll be putting that money to good use, by ensuring the region's water network, treatment works and sewer systems get the investment needed to deliver the service our customers expect."