Public must not foot the bill for the change to sewer system says Farron

3.25.00pm GMT Wed 17th Dec 2008

Shadow Secretary of State for DEFRA Tim Farron MP has welcomed yesterday's announcement that the Government intends to place private sewers under the control of Water and Sewerage companies but has warned that the change mustn't't be funded from the public's pocket.

Mr Farron has continually called for a change to the current sewer management system, which deems private sewers and lateral drains to be the responsibility of property owners. Mr Farron has raised concerns that many residents in houses off the public network have been unaware of their duty to maintain and repair the sewers until they are issued with the bill.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"These are welcome changes that should have been adopted years ago.

"At the moment we have a ridiculous system which charges residents to maintain sewers existing outside of their own property boundaries.

"Despite these hidden charges, the Government has announced that cost of necessary future improvements will be shared by customers.

"The Government has issued a transfer date of 2011 to allow the water industry and those businesses operating around it sufficient time to prepare for the new system. What's important now is that they use this time to ensure that the cost of this handover isn't passed on to the public."