Farron tells United Utilities: 'Do not raise water bills'

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on local water company United Utilities to look at freezing bills for customers.

Tim is following up a letter that has gone to all the major water companies from the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson MP stressing the tough times that households are facing and the crucial role that the industry can play in bringing costs down.

Water companies have also been specifically asked by the water regulator Ofwat to consider if they need to apply the full price increases next year allowed for in the 2009 Price Review. Since 2009, average increases in water and sewerage bills have been in line with inflation, and are just over a pound a day, but this has still substantially outstripped increases in household income.

Tim said: "I am working tirelessly to deal to deal with the bills that people have to pay. To deal with these issues we created an energy switch scheme locally that can save people up to £300 a year of their energy bills. We are pushing for a 5p fuel cut for Cumbria and now I am asking United Utilities to take their responsibility seriously and try to freeze water bills."