Scrap water charge plan says FSB

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has called on the Government to scrap plans for water charges in Northern Ireland.

The group made its call came after a meeting of the FSB NI Policy Committee, which discussed the Government's plans in detail.

Wilfred Mitchell, FSB Policy Chair said: “Our members are deeply concerned at Government plans to introduce Water Charging in Northern Ireland, which will add a further considerable burden onto local small business owners.

“Small Businesses are already facing high rates, electricity and insurance costs and are now facing water charges. In fact, small business owners are being faced with a double tap tax, both in their family home and at their business premises."

Mr Mitchell questioned why the business community and domestic users should have to pay for decades of under investment by direct rule Government in the local water infrastructure.

He said that as Water was alreeady included in the rates bill, Government should cut in rates.

“The Government is facing massive opposition from all of the political parties, trade unions and now us. They must listen to these concerns and dump these Water Tax plans," he said.

Last week, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said he had received a letter revealing Government plans to increase rates in the province in order to cushion the impact of water charges on household bills.

In the letter to Mr Robinson's party last Friday, the east Belfast MP said that Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Paul Murphy was planning an increase in household bills on top of a £300 per year water bill.

“We have drawn up proposals to make above trend increases in Regional Rates immediately before the introduction of water charging so that we can moderate the total increases in household bills (rates and water charges combined) during the following few years when we are introducing water charges," Mr Murphy is alleged to have said in the letter.

Mr Robinson said he was "utterly appalled" at the plans and said that the Government's period of public consultation over water reform was "quite clearly a façade".

(MB)