Weston Rhyn and St Martins in water charges row

RESIDENTS OF two Shropshire villages caught up in an anomaly which, it is claimed, means some pay £150 more in water charges than their neighbours today called on their MP to take the issue to Parliament.

The villages of Weston Rhyn and St Martins are on the border of the boundaries for the water companies, Severn Trent and Welsh Water.

Those who have their sewage disposed of by Welsh Water - even though they pay their bills to Severn Trent - have to pay much higher charges, which they say is unfair.

And they claim the problem there has been with flooding and sewage, particularly in St Martins, is adding insult to injury.

Now Weston Rhyn Parish Council is taking up the campaign for the extra costs to be shared between everyone. Parish councillor Bill Jenkins, who lives in St Martins, explained the issue at a meeting of Weston Rhyn Parish Council.

He said: "The vast majority of people in Weston Rhyn have Welsh Water bills and some residents in St Martins, including me, say they have to pay an extra standing charge.

"Although our bills are paid to Severn Trent the sewage is disposed of by Welsh Water and so we pay about £150 more a year.

"I can't understand it. The sewage all goes down the same pipes."

Weston Rhyn Parish Council has agreed to write to North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson to ask him he take the matter up in Parliament.

The anomaly is already being highlighted by pressure group the 3 Parish Water Forum. It has organised a public meeting to be held in the St Martins Centre in St Martins on May 17.

Victoria Whittal-Williams, a spokesman for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, said: "Our charges may be higher than other water companies because we serve a very large geographical area with a relatively small population."

She added: "All of this is reflected in the level of bills charged to customers, which are set by the water industry regulator Ofwat."

By Sue Austin