Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

Guidance on Concessionary
Schemes for Surface Water
Drainage Charges - you
must act now!
Sports clubs and voluntary groups face crippling increases
in water charges if water companies get their way!
THE Government is inviting views on its
guidance to water and sewerage companies
on concessionary schemes for community
groups, to protect them from unaffordable
surface water drainage charges. This is to
accompany provisions made in the Flood and
Water Management Act. It covers:
• the need for a concessionary scheme
• which community groups should be
included in concessionary schemes
• what constitutes a fair and affordable
charge
• the needs of other customers.
The consultation is aimed at water and
sewerage companies, Ofwat, the Consumer
Council for Water, community and voluntary
groups and other non-household water and
sewerage customers.
A number of sports governing bodies were
instrumental in fighting off the last attempt by
water companies to greatly increase the cost
of surface water charges.
Many sports clubs would face potentially
4
crippling increases, from hundreds to
thousands of pounds a year, if water
companies were able to introduce these
increased charges.
The updated Guidance Document has been
developed to inform local authorities on how
to approach the development of a surface
water management plan, particularly in areas
at high risk of surface water flooding.
The guidance reflects the roles that different
organisations will take in the development of
surface water management plans, and takes
account of the findings from the six DEFRA
funded first edition surface water
management plans.
A Government review concluded that surface
water management plans should provide the
basis for managing local flood risk.
In order to help develop the surface water
management plan guidance, and move
forward local flood risk management in some
key high risk areas, six local authorities were
funded to develop first edition surface water
management plans. The local authorities
Deadline
22nd October
involved in this pilot were; Gloucestershire,
Hull, Leeds, Richmond, Warrington and
Thatcham.
This work has been overseen by a Steering
Group, including DEFRA, the Department for
Communities and Local Government and the
Environment Agency.
The deadline for responses is 22 October
2010. Further information on how to respond
to the consultation can be found at -
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/su
rface-charges/index.htm. This includes a
sample consultation letter and other
documentation.
You can also write to Jennifer Offord, Water
Charging and Economic Regulation Team,
DEFRA, Area 2C, Ergon House, Horseferry
Road, London, SW1P 2AL. Email:
swdconcessions.consultations@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Pitchcare would urge all sports clubs to
respond to this threat.
A list of consultees is shown opposite.