Meter move ‘leads to privatisation’

Campaigners opposed to water charges have said any attempt to introduce water and property taxes on households would be met with mass opposition and a widespread boycott.

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes (CAHWT) yesterday outlined their opposition to the proposed measures, claiming it would open the way for privatisation of services and make elderly and vulnerable people so wary of running up bills that they would not run a bath.

The group, spearheaded by longstanding campaigners against previous attempts to introduce water and other charges, said efforts should instead be made to close off leaks that they said were responsible for the massive amount of wastage in the water system, resulting in huge cost to the taxpayer.