Villagers in west Wiltshire are forming an action group after being sent letters telling them they have to pay up to £12,000 towards repairs to the sewerage system.

Last week the Wiltshire Times revealed that housing association Selwood Housing had written to 320 households telling them about its plans to invest £700,000 in 25 rural sewerage systems.

Some private householders in Crockerton, near Warminster, were fuming after being told they need to pay £7,000 each for the repairs and to add insult to injury, they have to pay within 30 days of receiving an invoice for the work or face an extra 15 per cent administration charge, equalling £1,050.

Following our article, residents in nearby Codford came forward saying they have been told to pay £12,000 each.

Now homeowners from the two villages and other affected villages have joined forced to launch a committee to challenge Selwood’s demands for the cash.

Paul Collins, 54, of New Road, who received a demand for £12,000, said: “We had a meeting on Sunday and it was decided that it would be sensible if we all got together to do something.

“They have upset lots of people. Once we have set up, our aim is to get the amount we are having to pay reduced.”

The group is due to meet up tonight to establish who would stand on the committee.

Codford Parish Council chairman Romy Wyeth said: “The letters from Selwood are quite rude because they suggest that if residents don’t pay they will be sued. You just don’t send letters like that.

“People may not be able to pay, or not want to pay, but you still shouldn’t get a letter saying if you don’t pay you will be sued.

“It is especially upsetting for older people to get these kinds of letters. It is totally unreasonable.

“They should offer a break down of the work that will be done because at the moment they are pulling figures out of thin air.

“It’s very difficult to find that kind of money in this climate – some people don’t even earn enough to pay for it monthly.”

Half of the 320 homes affected by the repairs are owned by Selwood Housing.

Selwood, whose headquarters are on the Bryer Ash Business Park in Trowbridge, said the work is necessary to meet conditions set by the Environment Agency.

Some of the work is not scheduled to take place for several years and Selwood has offered to help people find ways of paying.