Compulsory Water Meters are a Sign of Government Failure

2.21.46pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 1st Mar 2006

The South East's Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles has reacted with concern to today's news that a South East Water company has been given the go-ahead to start installing compulsory water meters.

The Government have now officially classified the South East as an area of water scarcity, and have approved the use of compulsory water meters in an attempt to solve the problem.

Sharon Bowles MEP commented "I understand that there is now no option other than to meter water consumption in the South East, but this new measure is only half an answer."

"The water company concerned are only predicting 90% of their customers will be on water meters by 2015. I find it hard to believe this new compulsory metering is going to change the level of the South East's reservoirs in the next few years, when it will take so long to install the meters."

"Water meters are still controversial, with pensioners who spend most of the day at home, and families with small children thought likely to receive higher bills. I accept that now they may be a necessary evil, but why are these compulsory meters not being announced as part of a far wider package of measures to tackle this drought in the South East?"

"It is time the Government stopped putting all the emphasis on South East residents and took some responsibility themselves for tackling this water crisis in our region."

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