A Bad Deal for New Romney?

Research by Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll has revealed that whilst residents of New Romney are having to pay several thousand pounds to connect to the long awaited new mains drainage system, residents in other areas of the UK are getting connection for only a token fee.

The issue relates to the 'lateral pipes' that run from the houses to the new main sewer in the middle of the road. In New Romney, Southern Water are making people pay for these pipes. In East Anglia, Anglia Water are providing them almost free of charge.

Peter said, 'Anglia Water are installing systems and are not making people pay for the lateral pipes that run from the house to the new main sewer. If this approach can be made to work for the people of East Anglia - why can't it be made to work for the people on the Marsh? I can't understand this even from a commercial point of view. If Southern Water did not make people pay for the lateral pipes, more local people would be able to join up. In this way, Southern Water would have the benefit of more people paying their annual sewage charge - so this should be a 'win win' outcome both for Southern Water and local people'.

Peter is writing to the Chief Executive of Southern Water to ask that his company consider adopting the approach used by Anglia Water. Peter said, 'New Romney has suffered from having no mains drainage for decades. It seems really unfair that local people, many of them pensioners, will have to pay thousands of pounds to get the benefit of the new system when other parts of the country don't have to.

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