Water charge may close churches

Churches were previously exempt from water charges

Churches across Greater Manchester could be forced to close because of a new water charge, clergymen warn.

It is being introduced by United Utilities to cover the cost of surface water drainage.

The water company, which earlier this week announced massive profits, says it is following advice from regulator Ofwat to make the system fairer.

John Applegate, archdeacon of Bolton, said the charge will be crippling for churches which previously did not pay.

Environment minister and Oldham East and Saddleworth, Phil Woolas, said all the rainwater that falls onto patios and car parks and other hard surfaces and goes into sewers, is then treated as sewage and goes through an expensive treating process.

He added: "So this is part of the change that we are having to introduce to make sure we don't spend billions on treating rainwater - which is just stupid."

Churches were previously exempt from water rates but must now pay this new charge which will be calculated on the surface area of their site.

Smaller parishes that are on a knife edge financially will be forced to close John Applegate, Archdeacon of Bolton

But John Applegate the Archdeacon of Bolton said this could be the end for many churches. "The amount of money that will be asked from every church is huge - it will run into thousands of pounds.

"Some smaller churches will certainly go to the wall over this. Any smaller parishes that are on a knife edge financially will be forced to close.

"I think they should reconsider their policy - they can exercise their discretion and I think they should do that in favour of the voluntary sector and the faith communities."

'Fairest charge'

Brian Hurd from United Utilities said: "We've worked with Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water to determine what changes we should make.

"Both do support this as the fairest and most consistent way of charging."

But Ian Lowe, trustee of the Park Lane Unitarian Chapel in Bryn, which would be affected by the new charge, remains unconvinced.

"If suddenly you propose something like a 20% increase on our outgoings we would very quickly find ourselves eating our very limited resources.

"Ultimately, it is unthinkable, but we could well go out of existence and after 311 years that would be quite tragic."