A U-TURN that removes the threat of sky-high water bills for churches – but only for 12 months – does not go far enough, Liverpool Cathedral has warned.
The Diocese of Liverpool urged the Government to find a permanent solution after annual charges soared from just £5,000 to £70,000 at big cathedrals. Larger churches are paying £8,000, instead of £140.
The so-called “rain tax” – which charges churches and sports clubs according to the size of the land they occupy, rather than rateable value – triggered a 45,000-signature petition that was handed in at No.10 this week.
In the North West, water company United Utilities has now climbed down and reverted to the old, cheaper system, but only for one year while it holds talks with Ofwat, the regulator.
However, it was Ofwat that first urged all water companies to switch to charging according to land area, insisting it was fairer and an incentive to improve drainage systems.
It means churches in Merseyside and Cheshire face a return to bills of many tens of thousands of pounds next year, unless the Government bows to pressure to exempt non-profit organisations.
