Northern water charges move closer

Legislation allowing for water charges in Northern Ireland in April 2007 was set out on Thursday, June 1st by David Hanson, NIO minister with responsibility for social development.

The draft will go before parliament next autumn. The Minister said the cost of water to most customers would be around £2 per week or less when charges are first introduced. He believes that average annual bills would be closer to £350 by 2010.

Mr Hanson said that the draft legislation would be a step towards an improvement in the water and sewerage services. He added that the legislation would give cleaner beaches and improve economic growth.
“At present we are spending £1 million everyday on water and sewerage services and are making huge inroads into the infrastructure deficit that once existed here,” he said.
“The introduction of domestic charging will enable us to deliver sustained investment without having to use money which could otherwise be spent on other services such as health, education or roads.”

The Consumer Council is concerned about the restricted provision of meters which result in lower bills.
Chief executive Eleanor Gill said the metering proposals in the draft legislation were not enough. She accepted that the government had made provision for meters to be installed in homes but that there was a need to do much more.