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Lancashire water bug: Compensation of up to £60 'a disgrace', says MP | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
People in Lancashire who have had to boil tap water for nearly a month are to be given up to £60 in compensation. | |
More than 300,000 homes have been affected in the county after a parasite was discovered at a treatment works. | |
United Utilities said payments would range from £50 to £60 depending on when the advice to boil water was lifted. The move will cost them more than £15m. | |
Conservative MP for Fylde Mark Menzies said the size of the payment was a "disgrace" and "woefully inadequate". | |
'Paltry sum' | |
"I think the figure of £50 or £60... in no way reflects the inconvenience people have been put through over the last month without drinking water," he added. | |
"I am disappointed because when I met with United Utilities last week they said they were consulting on how much they should be giving consumers and were unable to even speculate on the figure." | |
Mr Menzies said for a company that made "almost £700m in profit last year, to offer this paltry sum is a disgrace." | |
United Utilities said that while it was offering the same payment to business customers, they would deal with claims for additional expenses on a case-by-case basis. | |
Paul Maynard, Conservative MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, warned United Utilities: "I would be very disappointed if [customers] receive a cheque for this amount only for their bills to go up by the same amount next year." | |
And he urged anyone who believes their compensation to be inadequate to contact him or the Consumer Council for Water. | |
'Significantly inconvenienced' | 'Significantly inconvenienced' |
Gary Dixon, customer services director for United Utilities, said the level of compensation had been set following discussions with the Consumer Council for Water. | Gary Dixon, customer services director for United Utilities, said the level of compensation had been set following discussions with the Consumer Council for Water. |
"We recognise that our customers have been significantly inconvenienced over the last few weeks and they rightly deserve to be compensated. | "We recognise that our customers have been significantly inconvenienced over the last few weeks and they rightly deserve to be compensated. |
"The payment reflects that inconvenience and takes into account the additional cost for boiling the water and a refund for water services over the period. | "The payment reflects that inconvenience and takes into account the additional cost for boiling the water and a refund for water services over the period. |
"We are grateful for our customers' co-operation and patience over the last few weeks." | |
United Utilities said residents and businesses would start to receive cheques in the post from Friday, but said some would not receive them until the end of the month. | |
Warnings to boil water were issued after the microbial parasite cryptosporidium was found at Franklaw water treatment works near Preston on 6 August. | |
Restrictions have been lifted in some areas, with more than two-thirds of homes back to normal. | |
Water has been treated with ultraviolet (UV) light to kill the parasite, which can cause diarrhoea and cramps. | Water has been treated with ultraviolet (UV) light to kill the parasite, which can cause diarrhoea and cramps. |
The water firm said it hoped to lift restrictions for most of its remaining customers by the end of the week. | The water firm said it hoped to lift restrictions for most of its remaining customers by the end of the week. |
Customers can check which areas have had restrictions lifted by visiting the United Utilities website or calling 0800 912 7241. | Customers can check which areas have had restrictions lifted by visiting the United Utilities website or calling 0800 912 7241. |
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