Water Voice claim to be the official voice for water customers but Waterwatch are becoming  increasingly concerned that they are not living up to their promises.

Waterwatch together with others have raised a number of serious issues with Water Voice Eastern [ Previously called Ofwat Eastern ] regarding Anglian Waters operation, but have been disappointed with their response. For example the Eastern Committee have stood by and done nothing about the blatant surface water drainage rebate scam or the disastrous restructuring, that has left a financially slimmed down core utility service, facing serious problems from old and inadequate sewers.

Anglian Waters have deliberately dragged their feet at informing their customers that a £30 rebate is available to a large percentage of households in the Anglian Water Region. Building regulations prevent the use of public sewers for the disposal of rainwater in many areas, yet they continue to charge for most householders for the service.

Water Voice have even had evidence that customers have been refused a rebate when their surface water drains into nearby watercourses but have refused to challenge Anglian Water about it.

The initial structuring of Anglian Water Company Limited enabled them to generate funding by rapidly increasing customer's bills to carry out overdue work on an aging water and waste water infrastructure. Some urgent work was carried out initially, but large amounts of capital raised from high water bills was used to bankroll expansion into diverse markets away from the core utility business and the water regulator.

Recent financial restructuring has left the original water and sewage service company Anglian Water Services holding the Ofwat license with limited funds to solve growing problems from failing sewers.

In contrast, the parent company Anglian Water Group [AWG]  are in a comfortable financial position, partly because they took over two billion pounds from Anglian Water Services as in the course of  restructuring the company. Anglian Water Services, despite being the original company and the source of the wealth is left with high levels of dept and very expensive sewer replacement problems. It is difficult to see how they are going to be able to meet their commitment to a growing number of worried customers who are facing serious difficulties with sewer flooding.

Don Calthorpe has campaigned for the past 4 years, to bring the surface water drainage rebate to the attention of the public. He attended the Water Voice Eastern Committee  meeting at The Branston Hall Hotel at Lincoln and has provided the report below which is intended mainly for the press.

PRESS REPORT  For details ring Don on 01526832477

4th December 2002

WHO DOES OFWAT SUPPORT - ANGLIAN WATER OR ITS CUSTOMERS ???

Only half the number of customer representatives appointed by OFWAT took the trouble to attend a quarterly meeting of Water Voice Eastern an 27th November to hear serious accusations against Anglian Water by Don Calthorpe, a retired water engineer from Ruskington, about multi-million pound issues of vital concern to all water rate payers throughout East Anglia.

He pointed out that the Company had attached unfair conditions to an award by the Water Regulator of £30 a year from Ist April 2000 rebate to customers not receiving a surface water drainage service. This was estimated to have saved Anglian Water around £100 million over a 'period of two years.

Instead of giving advice about entitlement to rebates, the Company employed customer response technicians" to check applications, in some cases which were admitted to be incorrect, for which apologies were given.

Roy Pointer, Anglian Water Services Managing Director, gave a presentation on "Sewer Flooding and Benefits to Customers following Restructuring" which failed to deal satisfactorily with the situation in Metheringham, reported by Brian Webb, where householders had been warned not to use water appliances during rainy periods. Short term proposals had been made to the Parish Council, to Install non-return valves and a holding tank, which would result in untreated sewage being discharged into water courses and continue to surcharge sewers and overload treatment works. Catherine Harvey, the Committee Chairman, promised to look into the question of payment of full sewerage charges until sufficient funds were available to make necessary modifications.

No light was shed by Anglian Water on the £500 million gain from restructuring which would benefit customers as well as shareholders. Dr. Roger Corbett, the former Chairman 1994 to 2001, had expressed strong reservations against this course of action two years ago.

The Committee's main concern was £40,984,201 estimated debts from customers on 27th November 2002. This embarrasment could well be doubled if customers had the courage to deduct £30 from their bills for rebates in 2003 - 2004. Solutions suggested such as compulsory water metering and cutting off supplies for non-payment would. have a rough ride from all customers.

A much better solution would be to have a Judicial Review, without prolonged delays through legal action and imposing prohibitive expense on customers.

A.D.C. 4.12.02.