|
Water bills in Northern Ireland that were due to be posted out yesterday have been put on hold after the news that power-sharing will return to the country.
The move has been requested by the DUP and Sinn Fein according to Secretary of State Peter Hain, although he has confirmed that the issue is not resolved and will be dealt with by the executive when devolution is restored (8 May).
Trade unions have been protesting about the water bills for some time now and have been awarded various postponements.The parties have now asked for further talks with Gordon Brown.
On Monday, Nipsa's general secretary John Corey said the campaign for non-payment of water charges applied "with equal force" to direct rule ministers or to a devolved administration.
"For the last four years we have listened to direct rule ministers insisting there is no alternative to household water charges," he said.
"Now the secretary of state says water charges can be suspended - or even abolished by the assembly.
"Why would anyone pay charges that the government is prepared to switch on and off and use as a political football?
"This confirms the nonsense and the unfairness of these charges in Northern Ireland."
The new system - to be phased in over three years - was being introduced because the government wanted water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland to become self-financing.
Due to begin in April, the new charging programme was linked to the value of homes, but has caused much controversy.
|
Albion Chemicals Ltd., the UK and Ireland’s leading chemicals distributor has signed a two year contract to supply water treatment chemicals to South Staffordshire Water Plc.
The new Vista Plus and Octopus loggers from Halma Water Management combine the unique measurement and data logging technologies and experience of Hydreka S.A. and Radcom Technologies.
The high performance TR Muncher from Mono® NOV, Europe’s leading designer and manufacturer of pumps, parts, grinders, screens and packaged systems, has been installed by Thames Water to improve efficiency at Bracknell Sewage Treatment Works by preventing pump blockages and minimising down time.
