Following letters to Yorkshire Water about their mistake on last year’s water bill, that they are demanding we all pay for - Alexander joined forces with the some of the Local Conservative councillors to write to both the Chair of Ofwat (Water Services Regulation Authority) and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to put the pressure on.
This affects all of Rother Valley - and local residents need it resolving.
But it isn’t just this “error” - the massive increase in bills is UNACCEPTABLE!
Alexander and the councillors have also asked the Secretary of State to explain why he thinks hard-working households should pay an average 28.6% more to Yorkshire Water this year.
The first of many large expected increases in water bills to pay for the demands set out by the Government.
Labour were elected on the lofty promise of saying they had a Plan for Water. At no point did they say this would cost each household hundreds of pounds more.
It is wrong.
Letter to the Secretary of State is below 
Dear Rt Hon Steve Reed MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Yorkshire Water bills have gone up an average of 28.6% this year. When Labour came to power with your Plan for Water, you failed to tell our constituents that they would be paying for your plans. It is not the shareholders or executives paying, it is ordinary hard-working people in towns and villages in Rother Valley.
In addition to this substantial increase in bills, our constituents received a letter from Yorkshire Water Customer Service’s regarding a “miscalculation” in last year’s water bills, informing that this will be corrected with an additional £44.65 added to this year’s bill. Apparently this sum is due to an error in last year’s bill in which Yorkshire Water failed to include the Severn Trent sewerage fixed charge.
This is incredibly concerning for many people. The increase in this year’s bills is substantial at a time when household income is already being squeezed. Many residents strongly believe that they should not be charged for an error Yorkshire Water made over a year ago. This is a position that we agree with.
It is wrong to demand £44.65 on top of the huge annual rise.
We ask that you urgently investigate this matter and ensure that both Ofwat and Yorkshire Water reverse this decision to backdate their error.
We also ask that you provide our constituents with an explanation why you think a 28.6% average increase in water bills is affordable for households in Rother Valley.
We look forward to your response,
Cllr Adam Tinsley (Maltby East)
Cllr Lynda Stables (Hellaby & Maltby West)
Cllr Simon Ball (Hellaby & Maltby West)
Alexander Stafford
Cllr Lee Hunter (Maltby Town Council East Ward)
