Beggs Helps Local Businesses Reduce Water Charges

East Antrim UUP MLA Roy Beggs Jnr. has helped ensure that local retail businesses get requested water meters installed on their premises, which in turn will mean a reduction in their water charges each year.

Roy Beggs MLA said "I welcome the indication from the Chief Executive of NI Water, Lawrence Mackenzie, that no business requesting a water meter should have to wait longer than a period of 3 months before installation."

Roy Beggs had been contacted by constituents who had been waiting over 12 months for a meter to be fitted. In response to the constituent enquiry, Roy Beggs wrote to NI Water, and brought the issue up at a Public Accounts Committee hearing with NI Water, of which the UUP man is Deputy Chairman.

Below is a transcript of the meetings proceedings between Roy Beggs MLA and Lawrence MacKenzie, Chief Executive of NI Water.

Mr Beggs:

I have a question to ask about your customer service. I recently received a letter from a business in my constituency that had contacted you over a year ago requesting that a water meter be installed. That business is not a big water user, yet it is paying large water bills that are based on the rateable value of its property. It was told that the meter could be installed in around a year's time, yet recently, it has been told that nothing is on the horizon. How would you ensure businesses that are not heavy water users are going to survive and are not going to get disproportionate water rates? When will they get water meters so that they will be charged for the water that they use?

Mr MacKenzie:

We have an ongoing programme of water meter installation. If any Member has a constituent who is concerned that we are being slow, they can come to me, and I will make sure that the matter is pushed forward.

Mr Beggs:

I appreciate the offer to resolve individual cases, but if a commercial business requests a meter, how long should it have to wait to have one installed?

Mr MacKenzie:

I would say that it should not have to wait for more than three months.

Subsequent to this discussion and letter to N.I water in June, the required water meters have since been installed on the premises and will save the local business a considerable sum of money.

Commenting on the issue, Roy Beggs said "If any business in the East Antrim area is having the same problem with having a water meter installed, do not hesitate to contact me or my team in my Carrickfergus (028 9336 2995) or Larne (028 2827 3258) offices."