Lib Dems slam water bills hike

Liberal Democrats in Taunton and Wellington have called for Wessex Water to scrap its 12% water bill hike.

And they say there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and executive bonuses.”

It comes as Water UK has released figures which forecast water bill price changes which show that, in Somerset, water bills are expected to rise by £59 a year for 2024-25.

Taunton and Wellington Liberal Democrats have slammed the move as “disgraceful."

Gideon Amos, their local Parliamentary candidate, said: “People in our area should not have to endure this price hike.

“During a cost-of-living crisis, it's a slap in the face to all those in our community who now have to pay more to water companies who have, for years, been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers.

“This disgraceful price hike should be scrapped immediately. There should be no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and exec bonuses.

“What is even more scandalous is that Conservative ministers have just stood aside and let water companies walk all over their customers. 

Wessex Water should be digging into their own pockets for once and not force these additional costs on to people in Taunton and Wellington.

“There should be an immediate end to sky-high bonuses and payments going to overseas investors. Money that should instead be going straight on fixing our crumbling infrastructure.”