Bishops sing 'rain tax' protest

The General Synod breaking into chorus of 'the rains came down and the tax went up'.

Senior bishops have burst into song in protest at the plans of some English water companies to impose huge bills on churches and other community groups.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was among those who joined in a chorus of "the rains came down and the tax went up" at the Church's annual general synod.

The synod voted to back campaigners who say the new "rain tax" has seen church drainage bills rise by up to 1,300%.

Water watchdog Ofwat says the charges are environmentally responsible.

The synod voted unanimously to urge the government to instruct Ofwat to tell water companies not to enforce the charges on places of worship.

Churches are not going to be treated as if they are businesses Archbishop of York, John Sentamu

Martin Dales, leader of DontDrainUs.org - a Church campaign opposed to the charges - told the synod: "The government permits businesses to claim their water bills and environmental improvements against tax.

"But there is no such subsidy available to churches and charities."

Many churches and other not-for-profit groups like the Scouts Association have seen their bills for water drainage rocket after four firms in England changed their charging policy.

In the past, community groups were largely exempt from drainage bills because of their charitable status.

But following advice from the water regulator Ofwat, four companies - Yorkshire, United Utilities, Severn and Northumbria - changed their charging policy.

Umbrella waving

Churches now face higher bills because the drainage charges are based on the total surface area of their roofs, which governs how much rainwater has to be drained away into sewers.

Water companies say they are following the advice of Ofwat, which says charging for drainage is an "environmentally responsible" approach.

It says the cost of providing surface water drainage in England and Wales is about £700m every year, and everyone needs to pay their share.

But the policy has led to some not-for-profit groups paying considerably more than commercial buildings - like shops and factories.

At times waving an umbrella during his speech, Mr Dales said the change meant larger churches would see their bills rise from £140 to £8,000 a year.

Cathedrals, he said, would pay between £5,000 and £71,000 a year.

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, told the Synod, "This is a national problem that is going to need a national solution."

He added: "Churches are not going to be treated as if they are businesses."

"Wishy washy"

The campaign against drainage charges has already seen one of the water companies - United Utilities - suspend its charging policy for 2009.

Another firm, Severn Trent, has said it intends to charge churches and charities from next year, but will bring in the charges over time.

Water minister Huw Irranca-Davies said on Tuesday he was glad "common sense" was prevailing and that the move by United Utilities was "a step in the right direction."

But although he criticised other water companies for failing to use their discretion to reduce the impact on voluntary groups, he told the Guardian website that he still believed that charging by surface area was a "fairer" system.

Church of England spokesman David Marshall dismissed the minister's comments as "wishy-washy".

"It doesn't change anything," he added.

Mr Marshall said the government still had not acted to enforce guidance it issued to Ofwat in 2000 that recommended churches be exempt from surface water drainage charges.

He added: "The minister has still failed to give a clear statement that Ofwat should follow the government's own guidance."

Scout Association spokesperson Stella Creasy said: "OFWAT is currently in the process of reviewing their prices.

"We believe now is the time for them to end the confusion caused by the surface area water charges debacle once and for all."