Southern Water price hike labelled “disgraceful” and urged to be scrapped
Liberal Democrats in Horsham have called for Southern Water to scrap their 9.1% water bill hike and have said that there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and executive bonuses”.
It comes as Water UK has released figures which forecast water bill price changes which show that in Horsham water bills are expected to rise by £40 a year for 2024/25. It means Southern Water will be hiking up bills by 9.1% for the coming year1.
Horsham Liberal Democrats have slammed the move as “disgraceful" and have said there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and exec bonuses”.
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Horsham, John Milne said:
“People in Horsham should not have to endure this disgraceful price hike. During a cost of living crisis, it is a slap in the face to all those in our community who now have to pay more to water companies who have for years been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers and streams.
“This insulting price hike should be scrapped immediately. There should be no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and exec bonuses.
“What is even more scandalous is that Conservative ministers have just stood aside and let water companies walk all over their customers. Southern Water should be digging into their own pockets for once and not force these additional costs onto people in Horsham during a cost of living crisis.
“There should be an immediate end to sky-high bonuses and payments going to overseas investors. Money that should instead be going straight on fixing our crumbling infrastructure.”
1 | Data on the changes to water bills can be found on Southern Water’s website.