New water Lokpal will deal with leaks and wrong bills

A new Lokpal will deal with leak pipes, wrong bills and other issues that people have with water companies, the government has announced.

The new consumer champion is being launched as part of comprehensive plans to overhala the industry, due to the later announcement, after public outrage on the rising bills and the increase in sewage discharge in the UK waterways.

The way the region is regulated is expected to change considerably, especially after reviewing the industry on Monday after the Water Commission.

Environment Secretary Steve Reid is already Vow to reduce the number of water firms by 2030 – For the first time the government has set a clear target for pollution spread.

He used an interview on the BBC on Sunday to pave the way for far -reaching reforms, describing the region as “broken” and its regulator as “clearly failed”.

Reid said that voters can hold them accountable, if the quality of water had not improved, in the next election.

But he reduced by saying whether Tot could be completely axed – something that can be recommended by the Water Commission in his Monday report.

A major preacher at Cleaner Waterway, former Underton Frontman, Feargal Sharki said that he feared that the report would not be a radical enough to solve the problems faced by the sector and would become a disappointing “flat pancake”.

The latest declaration means that there will be a consumer sentinel in the water industry that will serve as a point of contact to consumers with complaints, it will be brought to suit other utilities.

The scheme will also show an extended role for the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), which currently takes on complaints.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department (Defra) was unable to set a deadline on the schemes of a new Lokpal, but said that they would have legal powers for the safety of customers who are in dispute with their water company.

The role of Britain’s waterways and the role of private companies managing the country’s water supply has been the subject of public debate, with extensive calls for the government to make widespread calls and to bring into difficult rules.

The region requires updates of huge infrastructure in front of the growing population and climate change requires more extreme weather effects.

Water firms have faced criticism for under-investing in systems that they manage, paying millions to all officers and shareholders.

Meanwhile, the number of water companies discharged sewage in England’s waterways Rose for records of 2,801 examplesThe data of the environment agency published on Friday revealed.

Reid said that he had “talked to people above and below the country” who was “angry about our water situation”.

A Survey by CCW In May, it was found that there was a decline in confidence in water companies, only 35% of the respondents said they feel satisfied with what their providers were doing to protect the environment.

To improve its infrastructure, a record £ 104BN is to be invested in the water sector over the next five years.

As a result, average of £ 123 is expected to increase in consumer bills – although for southern water customers It can be as much as £ 224,

Shadow Environment Secretary, Victoria Atkins welcomed the plan to create a new Lokpal in principle, but said it would only play a small role in solving the long -term problems of the water industry.

“We all want the water system to improve, and honesty about the scale of the challenge is necessary,” he said.

Etkins said that the government needs to convince where the investment will come from and how to improve or change will be successful in cleaning rivers and lakes.

Tim Faron MP, spokesman for Liberal Democrats Environment, said: “To effectively deal with the sewage scandal, we need fundamental changes, not another layer of bureaucracy.”

But he said that a new Lokpal can provide a means of prevention to consumers “who have been forced to make the bill foot to thwart water companies for a very long time”.