Basingstoke council leaders’ open letter to Thames Water CEO

Basingstoke: Council leaders Paul Harvey and Gavin James are upset. They’re concerned about Thames Water challenging a regulator’s ruling. They don’t want the costs passed on to billpayers.

They want Thames Water to be transparent and accountable. The company has failed to invest in water treatment and environmental projects.

Thames Water has been fined £18.2 million for paying “unjustified” dividends. The regulator plans to recover £131.3 million. The council leaders are shocked that Thames Water might fight this ruling.

They believe money should go to improving services, not legal battles. They also don’t want billpayers to cover these costs. Those who received dividends should pay back the money.

Recently, it was revealed that Thames Water continued paying dividends while neglecting important projects. They charged customers for work that wasn’t done. The regulator only learned about these issues in August 2023.

Thames Water claims rising costs for energy and chemicals caused delays in projects. They won’t deliver 98 out of 826 promised schemes. This includes projects to reduce pollution in rivers.

The pollution from the Basingstoke Treatment Works is a big concern. Thames Water hasn’t denied delaying projects or diverting funds for dividends.

Starting next April, the regulator will allow Thames Water to raise bills by £31 a year. This means an increase of 36 percent before inflation. Billpayers will bear the cost of Thames Water’s mismanagement.

The council leaders stress the need for accountability. Thames Water should acknowledge its failures. The current system is broken and needs reform.

Many billpayers are frustrated. An email from a resident shows support for those struggling to pay bills. Thames Water’s actions don’t justify the bill increases or lack of investment.

The leaders call for humility and accountability from Thames Water. They want the company to reflect on its impact on billpayers and the environment.

Yours sincerely,
Paul Harvey and Gavin James