| United Utilities justified its decision on Monday as “the fairest way” to charge. “The new method takes into account both the footprint of the property, as well as the external drained area,” a spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for Northumbrian Water said the changes were “cost-neutral” for the company. It had communicated widely, visited churches, and offered advice on channelling water away from the main drains.
Ofwat agreed that the new way of charging was “fair”. “It is our preferred option,” a spokesman said.
One parish, Seascale in Cumbria, says it faces increases of 591 per cent a year for three years. The charges rise from £34.14 this year to £205.73 next year, and then £364 in 2010, and £543 in 2011.
Other churches will have to pay for water run-off for the first time. John Lloyd, churchwarden for All Saints’, Southport, said his church faced a bill of £2300. “All Saints’ is not a large building, but it does have a reasonable-sized car park. If its overall drained area is typical, then, with some 200 churches in the diocese, United Utilities will be netting an extra £500,000. With the addition of other denominations and secular charity-owned buildings, the total must be several million.”
A Church of England spokesman confirmed that the new charges could cost millions, if they were not reversed. The Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division of the Archbishops’ Council has approached Ofwat, which had said that it was “very willing” to talk. The Government had already told Ofwat that it should have regard to the differences between churches and businesses when it came to their use of water.
The Church was also seeking the backing of the Churches Main Committee. Frank Cranmer, secretary of the committee, did not think a great deal could be done, because the water utilities were private companies, and they needed to raise the money to meet their considerable costs. “It is very tough on churches,” he said.
They could, however, cut their liability by ensuring water soaked away on their land. They could even remove their hard standing for cars. “But they would then have a very muddy car park,” Mr Cranmer said.
The water companies calculate their charges on the basis of the site area. Churches can get the amount reduced, if they can prove that some of the water does not go into the main drains, but soaks into the church’s own land.
All Saints’, Southport, paid for a consultation with the diocescan architect to provide such proof, and hopes to get its bill cut accordingly. “We may have been able to get that down to the lower band, as part of our roof water drains off to a soakaway,” said Mr Lloyd.
The Diocesan Secretary of York, David Fletcher, said that the new charges came at a bad time, when parishes were already “reeling” at the increases in other costs.
The Diocesan Secretary of Liverpool, Mike Eastwood, said his staff were seeing what support could be offered to parishes. “That includes talking to United Utilities to explore any potential ways that we can reduce the financial burden.” |
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