United Utilities postpones rain tax and sends in the spin doctorsIt is for each company to decide its own precise approach within the overall framework set by its licence. United Utilities, which is expecting to use the rain tax to drain £3 million from churches, clubs and charities, has been accused of bullying its charitable customers. If rain tax bills have been disputed then organisations lost any transitional relief and threatening solicitors’ letters have been sent. United Utilities also has the highest rain tax bills in the UK. As a result of gathering anger, Ofwat recently convinced United Utilities to postpone the full costs of the rain tax. During the next twelve months United Utilities believes it can convince the charitable sector that the rain tax is a fair tax. The Bishop of Middleton said, “Last week United Utilities placed a moratorium on the ‘rain tax’, postponing its introduction for twelve months while they try and convince us that draining churches, charities and clubs is a good thing. The fact that United Utilities is looking again at its charging structure is at least a recognition of just how indefensible the ‘rain tax’ is. Merely postponing the ‘rain tax’ for twelve months does not begin to address the underlying problem. The effect of the policy imposed by the Government and Ofwat is to transfer a financial burden from businesses and other trading organisations to churches and many other community premises. That is nonsense and the Church of England will, with others, be continuing to press the Government, Ofwat and the water companies for a fair and permanent solution.” See the united Utilities charging bands below |
|
Churches, Charities and Clubs – fighting for fair charging by water companies |
|
Send in the spin doctors |
|
Info box
|
info@dontdrainus.orgHotline 0709 2847134 |
|
Download posters below |
|
Charging Band |
Chargeable Area (m2) |
Surface Water (£) |
Highway Drainage (£) |
Surface Water and Highway Drainage (£) |
|
1 |
0-124m2 |
49 |
49 |
98 |
|
2 |
125-299m2 |
122 |
122 |
244 |
|
3 |
300-649m2 |
273 |
272 |
545 |
|
4 |
650-1,499m2 |
617 |
616 |
1,233 |
|
5 |
1,500-2,999m2 |
1,290 |
1,290 |
2,580 |
|
6 |
3,000-6,999m2 |
2,868 |
2,867 |
5,735 |
|
7 |
7,000-11,999m2 |
5,448 |
5,448 |
10,896 |
|
8 |
12,000-17,999m2 |
8,603 |
8,602 |
17,205 |
|
9 |
18,000-24,999m2 |
12,330 |
12,330 |
24,660 |
|
10 |
25,000-49,999m2 |
21,506 |
21,506 |
43,012 |
|
11 |
50,000-74,999m2 |
35,843 |
35,843 |
71,686 |
|
12 |
75,000-99,999m2 |
50,181 |
50,180 |
100,361 |
|
13 |
100,000-124,999m2 |
64,518 |
64,518 |
129,036 |
|
14 |
125,000-149,999m2 |
78,856 |
78,855 |
157,711 |
|
15 |
150,000m2 and above |
81,447 |
81,446 |
162,893 |