'This insulting price hike is the last thing families across our town need right now'

The decision to hike water and sewage bills in a Greater Manchester town. has been slammed as ‘insulting’ amid calls for it to be scrapped.

Water and sewage bills will go up by £35 in Oldham this year – above the national average – after United Utilities, which provides most of the water to the north west, said it would be hiking prices by eight per cent.

The firm will be charging £481 a year for 2024/25, up from £446 last year, according to figures released by trade association Water UK. It brings annual water and sewage bills in Oldham above the national average of £473.

The borough’s Lib Dem leader, councillor Howard Sykes, said: “This insulting price hike should be scrapped immediately. These price hikes are the last thing families across Oldham need right now.

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“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 been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers for years.”

Coun Sykes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s completely unacceptable. People don’t choose where to get their water.”

A spokesperson for United Utilities said that over the last 30 years, the company has invested nearly three times as much money as it has made in profit. It said it is about to embark on its ‘largest ever investment program’ funded by bank loans and shareholders.

“This will allow us to meet new environmental legislation, delivering cleaner rivers, more reliable water supplies and will provide extra support for customers struggling with bills,” the spokesperson said.

Water rushing out of a tap: Water and sewage bills will go up by an ‘insulting’ £35 in Oldham this year, says Coun Sykes

They added: “Regulator Ofwat will ensure that any bill increases are affordable and that they are only used to pay for new investment, spread out over the lifetime of the new infrastructure which could be 50 years or more.”

Ofwat has said it is the responsibility of water companies to ‘protect those who are most in need of a helping hand’.

Ofwat boss David Black said: “We would encourage anyone who is worrying about how to pay a water bill to contact their water company and find out what schemes are on offer that could reduce bills, smooth payments, or help with debt.”

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) this week announced they would be putting a ban on water bosses receiving bonuses if a company has committed serious criminal breaches – including excessive sewage dumping.

A Defra spokesperson said: “We expect water companies to put robust support in place for customers that are struggling to pay their bills, including bill discount schemes and adjusted payment plans.”