A Cotswold resident has been refusing to pay his wastewater bill for four years due to ongoing capacity issues at a Thames Water pumping station. Rupert Firkins stood up during a public meeting in Moreton-in-Marsh earlier last month (December) to ask water firm representatives about the issues affecting Primrose Court sewage treatment works.
There have been concerns in Moreton over the adequacy of the pumping station for several years particularly with new housing developments and the matter has been part of the discussions at town council meetings.
When the treatment works is running at capacity it discharges into three holding tanks and when they are full it discharges into the field behind the pumping station, Mr Firkins said. He said the field is used through the winter when he water table’s up.
And it takes a small amount of rain to trigger a discharge. Mr Firkins is also frustrated over lack of action by the Environment Agency which he deems “absolutely toothless”.
Speaking at a meeting organised by North Cotswold MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown which looks at addressing flooding and river pollution issues, Mr Firkins said he believed Thames Water were “operating out of their permit”.
As such, he has refused to pay the waste water bill since 2020 and despite several attempts from debt collection agencies to recoup the charge, the cases have been closed, he told those present at The Redesdale Hall on December 6.
Mr Firkins, who has lived in the town since 2008, said: “I have been withholding payment for my waste water bill since 2020.
“I approached the Environment Agency trying to get something done about the fact they appear to be operating out of permit just down the road here at Primrose Court. Long story short, four years later, still withholding payment.
“I’ve had six debt collection agencies instructed by yourselves and a legal firm of solicitors. When I explain why I’m not paying, they all either write back to Thames to say we’re washing our hands with this in effect case closed, or Thames writes back and says, case closed, not doing anything about this.
“Just wondering how you might take things forward?”
A Thames Water representative said he would not comment on an individual billing case. “It’s not my area of expertise,” he said.
Questions were asked over Primrose Court sewage treatment works in Moreton-in-Marsh
(Image: Google Maps)
“Customers are free to do as they please. But please pay your bills.”
Mr Firkins asked if there would be no response to the board to his question. “Because the way I see it, I think all customers, the bill payer, is in control ultimately.
“The Environment Agency has been far too cosy with yourselves. And not just Thames Water, all of them. And I think the bill payer might have a bit more clout.”
The Thames Water representative said it was “certainly a powerful position” but he was not able to discuss the politics. His comments came shortly after a discussion in which Environment Agency (EA) officials said they could impose permits that Thames Water would not be able to meet – in which case they would impose enforcement sanctions.
“They will have to start to look to address how they meet the obligations in their permit,” an EA official said. “It’s their business, it’s their asset.”
One resident asked about the permit review which is due next year for the Primrose Court pumping station. Environment Agency officers said they are in consultations over the issue and their intention is to do so.
Water firm bosses were asked questions at a public meeting in Moreton-in-Marsh in December
(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Daryl Corps (C, Moreton West), who was also present, said there is a lack of future proofing with developments in the town.
“It’s as if they wait for the problem instead of heading it off at the outset. It’s putting residents health at risk.
“This is just another example of they saying infrastructure first but they don’t even have the infrastructure for the current infrastructure in Moreton. Cotswold District Council keeps banging on about infrastructure first but it has always been infrastructure second.”
A Thames Water spokesperson said they understand the strength of feeling around river health and are committed to improving the waterways. They said if a customer chooses not to pay their bills it may negatively affect their credit file.
“Protecting customers who cannot afford to pay their water bill is our priority, and over the next five years 647,000 households in our region will receive additional support. However, if a customer chooses not to pay for their water or waste water services, then it may negatively impact their credit file and result in a debt collection process.
Councillor Daryl Corps, who was also present at the meeting, said the infrastructure in Moreton-in-Marsh is struggling with the housing it already has
(Image: Submitted)
“We understand the strength of feeling around river health and we are committed to seeing our waterways thrive, but we can’t do it alone. Farming, industry, road runoff, wildlife and increasingly extreme weather also play a role in river health and as demand on infrastructure increases, more investment is needed. We have clear and deliverable plans to upgrade 250 of our sites across the region, to increase treatment capacity and reduce the number of storm discharges, including at our site in Moreton-in-Marsh.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said it was disappointing but not surprising that water firms reported an increase in sewage spills in 2023. They said they have plans to address this problem with an expanded specialised workforce, increased inspections and new enforcment powers.
“Whilst it is disappointing that water companies reported an increase in sewage spills in 2023, it is sadly not surprising. We are pleased to see record investment from the water sector, but we know it will take time for this to be reflected in spill data – it is a complex issue that won’t be solved overnight,” a spokesperson said.
“No other country has the level of monitoring we do, with 100 per cent of storm overflows in England now fitted with a monitor. We are better placed than ever before to hold water companies accountable – thanks to intelligence from our new whistleblower portal, our plans to expand our specialised workforce, new enforcement powers, increased water company inspections and new tools to inform our enforcement work.”