MPs from across the West Midlands have signed a letter to Severn Trent Water calling their practices “unacceptable” following a BBC investigation into the company.
A BBC Panorama investigation that was aired earlier this week, December 9, exposed an alleged “accounting trick” Severn Trent used to make it appear it has an investment worth £1.68 billion in its accounts.
The letter was written by Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles and has been signed by 20 MPs, including the MP for Dudley, Sonia Kumar.
In the letter, Labour MP Cat expressed her disappointment at these practices that appear to be being used to “claim bonuses, at the expense of investing in infrastructure to benefit customers and the environment”.
Her letter highlights the disparity between Severn Trent's claim that it is investing record amounts into storm protections, with the MP saying: “This is not reflected in what we see across our constituencies.
“Sewage continues to be pumped into waterways and leaks are left unrepaired”.
The letter, which has been sent to Liv Garfield, the CEO of Severn Trent, has been signed by the following West Midlands MPs:
- Dr Allison Gardner Member of Parliament for Stoke South
- Alex Ballinger Member of Parliament for Halesowen
- Shaun Davies Member of Parliament for Telford
- Jacob Collier Member of Parliament for Burton and Uttoxeter
- Jodie Gosling Member of Parliament for Nuneaton
- Matt Western Member of Parliament for Warwick and Leamington
- Chris Bloore Member of Parliament for Redditch
- David Williams Member of Parliament for Stoke North
- Sarah Edwards Member of Parliament for Tamworth
- Rachel Taylor Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire and Bedworth
- Leigh Ingham Member of Parliament for Stafford
- Antonia Bance Member of Parliament for Tipton and Wednesbury
- Sureena Brackenridge Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton North East
- Sonia Kumar Member of Parliament for Dudley
- Dave Robertson Member of Parliament for Lichfield
- Gareth Snell Member of Parliament for Stoke on Trent Central
- Warinder Juss Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton West
- Julia Buckley Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
- Zarah Sultana Member of Parliament for Coventry South
- John Slinger Member of Parliament for Rugby
In the letter, Cat wrote: “With the burden on consumers already at record highs, and for the service provided to be under investigation and open to the charge that it is harming the rivers in our constituencies, how you can pass the burden of increased costs on to the consumers while simultaneously handing out bonuses?
“The average annual water bill currently stands at £439, under these proposals it will rise to £580.
“Whilst water bill increases may be a necessity, for Severn Trent to raise them above the national average is unacceptable.
“We call on you to bring forward outstanding and delayed infrastructure projects across the region, especially around small rivers, and be more ambitious with these projects.
“Colleagues will be happy to raise individual concerns with you to address this.”
The letter also raises questions over the proposed bill increases for consumers, as requested by Severn Trent.
The company have requested to raise water bills by 46% over the next five years, which is 6% above the national average.
A decision is due to be made on the plan next week on December 19 by the water services regulation authority, OFWAT.
Severn Trent Water Severn Trent has said Panorama's allegations are "completely inaccurate".
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