Bid for lower water bills for some Wiltshire households

South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison has written to Robbie Moore, the Government minister for water and rural growth, in a bid to lower sewerage bills for some of his constituents.

He is asking the his fellow Tory to explore the possibility of transferring the ownership of sewage treatment works from housing associations to statutory water and sewage companies.

Having received correspondence from constituents concerned about the high prices housing associations charge them for sewerage maintenance, Andrew is looking at this option as one that may lower customers’ bills. 

Dr Murrison said: “Many housing associations have a poor record at keeping sewage charges low for customers whereas statutory water companies seem to have done a better job.

“I want to help push down bills and prevent financial shocks for my constituents. I’m keen to explore with the minister how transfer of ownership might help.’

A similar transfer was enacted in 2011 when the government passed The Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations 2011.

These transferred ownership and responsibility of privately owned sewers to the ten statutory water and sewerage companies in England and Wales.

These new regulations were introduced with the aims of paying for sewer repairs in a fairer and simpler way and removing the threat of customers being hit with huge repair bills for sewers that may not even have been on their property.

Trowbridge-based Selwood Housing said: “Maintaining and upgrading our 30 sewage plants is necessary to ensure they operate in line with the regulations required by the Environment Agency and to provide a suitable service to our customers.

“We will continue to consult with affected sewerage customers on further upgrade works that are necessary.

“We understand that for private homeowners these costs are significant, however as a charity and provider of local and affordable homes, we have to pass on a fair proportion of these costs.

“A private homeowner’s conveyance document will outline their responsibility for maintenance and upgrade works.

“In many cases we provide our sewerage customers with a range of payment options and encourage them to discuss with us any concerns. We also advise checking the terms of any home insurance policy that a customer may have.”

In the past, there have been instances of Wiltshire residents being charged large sums for major one-off maintenance works.

In 2001, Selwood Housing took on responsibility for sewerage plants in rural areas when the former West Wiltshire District Council transferred homes to the group.

In 2009, the association announced plans to invest £700,000 in upgrading its plants throughout the South West over a four-year period.

But in April 2009, the association sent a letter to several hundred households in Crockerton, near Warminster, demanding a £7,000 contribution to maintaining the local sewerage plant.

The housing association notified residents who were not Selwood Housing tenants they needed to pay for ‘their share of the work’, as outlined in their conveyance documents.

Flashback to 20098 in Crockerton: Steve White with angry residents of The Green, Crockerton, who had bills from Selwood demanding £7,000 from each household. (Image: Freelancer)

In 2012, Selwood Housing charged Codford villagers almost £6,000 per household to replace two sewage treatment works.

Residents living in The Grove in Codford protested, saying they could not afford to pay the £5,886 per home within a year, as demanded by the housing association.

In nearby Cherry Orchard house-owners faced bills of £2,640 for their plant to be brought up to Environment Agency standards.

Selwood Housing tenants were not being charged for the work, expected to cost £306,000 for both sites.

The residents were required to contribute to the costs through conditions imposed when they bought their houses, and Selwood claimed it had given them regular notice since 2009, when the plant in The Grove failed, that the treatment works would need replacing.

Flashback to 2012: Protesting residents Jamie Hunt, Stephanie Nielsen Hunt and daughter Aditi-Rose, Jeanette Elliott, Graham Otterwell, Caron Merchant and daughter Rose and Adrian Courtney in The Grove (Image: Freelancer)

Dr Murrison says he hopes that such costs can be avoided in the future.