The South West of England where I am lucky enough to live, has the largest coastline. South West Water, who made large profits last year charge me over £500 p/a so the beaches can be clean enough for the visitors. The water in the tap hasn"t changed since there were no such thing as a seperate charge for water, included in general rates. The visitors clogg up the roads and towns in the summer,with no benefit to the average working man.
2006-09-05 02:35:30 · 11 answers · asked by researcher 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
change to a meter it's cheaper!
2006-09-05 02:38:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The beaches have to be cleaned for health and safety reasons and this has to be paid for. The cost of this has gone up recently due to tighter regulations from the European Commision. I imagine the charge for cleaning the beaches is based on the value of the property you live in. There are other ways of charging for these, which have benefits and drawbacks.
It used to be the responsibility of the local council to clean the beaches; when the water services were privatised this responsiblity fell on the water companies. The beach cleaning used to be part of the Rates for the local councils: this charge was removed from the Rates (and sequelae) and the same mechanism was kept for paying for the beach cleaning.
Now you could argue that the tourists should pay for beach cleaning. However, direct charging would put off a very large proportion of tourists from visiting. The tourists do pay by visiting the area and spending money, thus absorbing and giving more than the charges for beach cleaning.
The theory is that everyone benefits from having clean beaches: through visiting themselves and through the money that tourists bring in. But not everyone can afford the same amount: a poor widow pensioner should not pay the same as a massive business. In my opinion the best way of addressing this is through a local income tax, but this is not to everyone's taste. So property values are used as a proxy. At £500 per year for beach cleaning, it is likely you have a larger property than average, so (in theory) should be able to afford more.
The actual charges for water, about 60p/day without a meter and 1 and a half pence for 2 gallons of water with a meter, are a bargain for what you get: fresh, safe water on demand, in the house, with extremely rare interruptions in supply and sewerage dealt with with increasing respect for the environment.
If there are less than three of you in a house and it is not tiny, you'll almost certainly save substantially by getting a water meter. These are usually free.
Of course the water services, a vital service, should be run by the people, not for private profit, but that is another matter...
2006-09-05 10:01:39 · answer #2 · answered by Leo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hear! Hear! I also live in the South West and pay £900 a year but what annoys me more than Water Rates is Council Tax because i pay £1200 a year and for what!
2006-09-05 09:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by Connie K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pissed off too. I wouldn't even mind if they provided a decent service but now there is the threat of a water shortage and they put the rates even higher!
To me the answer is simple. If you know there is a water shortage and you don't want everyone to be using stand pipes then STOP SELLING THE RESEVOIRS!
2006-09-05 09:50:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like the others say, have a meter put in. Water rates are tied in with the rateable value of the property you live in. We have a four bed home with just the two of us here. We had a meter put in and halved our water bill.. It also makes us aware of how much water we are using....just like it does for the gas and leccy.
Check with your water supplier if it is suitable for your property...they will probably do a survey,..... and they may even install one for free.
2006-09-05 09:45:46 · answer #5 · answered by sarch_uk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the cleaning of beaches,and the fitting of meters etc are NOT done by the water board, the work is done by subcontractors. the water board are an unnecessary and expensive middle man. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MAN AND LET THE COUNCIL EMPLOY THE SUBCONTRACTOR.THE MONEY SAVED SHOULD THEN BE PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMER
2006-09-08 14:12:57 · answer #6 · answered by melas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All over the world it is called privatisation and extorsion of the scheep, hier in aussyland they charge the pensioners now too ,it suck's bad, Anarchy is required and more terroist to blow does fatcat Goverments away all over the world.
2006-09-05 09:42:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wait until the price of water rivals that of oil.
2006-09-05 09:50:01 · answer #8 · answered by ElOsoBravo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Me, but even more brassed off with the Council tax.
2006-09-08 17:44:43 · answer #9 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the legacy of Thatcher and the Tories privatisations will haunt us for decades to come.
2006-09-05 09:41:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋