Southern Water price hike labelled “disgraceful” and urged to be scrapped

Liberal Democrats in the New Forest have called for Southern Water to scrap their 11.92% water bill hike and have said that there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and executive bonuses”.

It comes as Water UK has released figures which forecast water bill price changes which show that in the New Forest, water bills are expected to rise by £51 a year for 2024/25. It means Southern Water will be hiking up bills by 11.92% for the coming year.

New Forest Liberal Democrats have slammed the move as “disgraceful" and have said there should be “no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and exec bonuses”.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for New Forest West, Jack Davies, said:

“People in the New Forest should not have to endure this disgraceful price hike. During a cost of living crisis, it is a slap in the face to all those in our community who now have to pay more to water companies who have for years been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers.

“This insulting price hike should be scrapped immediately. There should be no price rises until water firms scrap insulting overseas dividends and exec bonuses.

“What is even more scandalous is that Conservative ministers have just stood aside and let water companies walk all over their customers. Southern Water should be digging into their own pockets for once and not force these additional costs onto people in the New Forest during a cost of living crisis.

“There should be an immediate end to sky-high bonuses and payments going to overseas investors. Money that should instead be going straight on fixing our crumbling infrastructure.”