Public ownership of Scottish Water is protecting West Lothian residents from bigger bills
Fiona Hyslop MSP has highlighted how action taken by the Scottish Government is protecting residents in West Lothian from spiralling water bills.
The MSP for Linlithgow has pointed to the public ownership of Scottish Water as the reason for water bills north of the border being a fifth lower on average than residents in England and Wales.
Figures show that the average water bill in England and Wales is £603 this year, almost 20 per cent higher than the £490 a year average in Scotland.
Fiona said: 'Following a major review into England and Wales' water industry which shows that bills will soar by over 30 per cent in the next five years, it is clear that while England's water companies are run for profit, Scotland's are run for public benefit and ensures that Scots pay far less for their water.
'By ensuring Scottish Water is in public ownership the Scottish Government have kept costs down for my constituents across West Lothian, who receive high quality water for a lower cost.
'Despite what we have heard from UK Government ministers, 87 per cent of Scotland's water environment is assessed by SEPA as having a high or good classification.
'This just goes to show that when we have the power in Scotland, we make the right decisions, and we could go so much further with the full powers of independence.'
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The Herald Scotland
38 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow bar closes due to months of Scottish Water road closures
West Regent Street is in the midst of a three-month closure from July 7 to September 26. Three months of essential sewer works being carried out by contractor George Leslie on behalf of Scottish Water have cost Roots alone thousands of pounds in weekly revenue, according to bosses. Beer Below is now closed, with three staff laid off. Footfall has dried up amidst a dizzying mess of barriers and Heras fencing that surrounds West Regent Street between Hope Street and Renfield Street. By the time the barriers are packed away, Nunzio fears his businesses could be gone for good. 'I have had many sleepless nights because I can see my business is going down the drain,' Nunzio says. After taking the difficult decision to close Beer Below, Nunzio also felt compelled to slash hours at Roots, closing up every evening of the week except for Friday and Saturday. It meant the seven remaining workers saw their hours cut to two short shifts a week, making it hard for them to pay their bills. Nunzio Russo, left and his brother Mariano Russo (Image: Colin Mearns) West Regent Street in the heart of Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) 'They are struggling, literally begging for more hours, but we are not able to give them,' says Bartek, general manager at Roots. Bartek reckons the losses are between £5,000 and £7,000 a week since the sewer repair started, and the restaurant itself has fallen behind with invoices. Sitting inside the empty restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, it is hard to hear him and head chef Carmen over the drilling outside. Carmen says they are not getting any help. 'It's so demoralising,' she says, lifting up a softly closed fist and dropping it on the table. The business had only opened last October. Now, less than a year later, the team is devastated that they might have to end operations permanently. 'We were slowly getting there, and then this happened to us,' she says. Those customers who do venture into Roots for a meal are forced to listen to the thundering sound of machinery just outside the window. 'We have had people sitting down and looking at the menus, and because of the noise, they say they are very sorry but can't stay,' says Bartek. The cancellations have been bad, but the no-shows are worse. At least when bookings cancel, the team can plan the evening and staffing levels a bit better. 'It's heartbreaking for us,' says Carmen, holding back tears. 'We are doing everything we can.' They can't keep the business afloat out of their own pockets. The only option left has been to hold off paying bills for the time being. Carmen says a lot of the suppliers have been very understanding and are trying to help them through, but suppliers are affected as well. 'Before the work started, when we were busier, our orders were a lot higher,' Bartek says. The head chef has had to watch produce expire while they wait for business to pick up. 'I cook fresh, all my produce is fresh,' she says. 'If I wouldn't eat it, I wouldn't give it to someone else.' The street is a mess of fencing (Image: Colin Mearns) Bartek says they were told there would be no compensation because the entrance is available. But the Heras fencing around the worksite juts out into the crossroads, shielding the restaurant from the view of any potential passersby walking up from Glasgow Central Station. Carmen has watched customers try to navigate around the fencing and enter the restaurant from West Regent Street before circling around the entire block to find the entrance to Roots on Renfield Street. The stress is taking its toll on Bartek. He understands that these things need to be fixed, 'but there's got to be a better way to deal with how it affects businesses,' he says. Bartek says he wants some financial support to help with the bills and compensation for the staff who lost hours or were laid off. Scottish Water is required to consider all public liability claims on a strict legal liability basis, but there is no statutory duty on the firm to compensate for economic loss under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Sewage (Scotland) Act 1968. Because the company is publicly owned, it has a duty to ensure that money raised from customer charges is invested in improving water and sewerage services. The entrance to Roots (Image: Colin Mearns) The significant repairs on the sewer network are being carried out to address property and Network Rail tunnel flooding under the street. While Scottish Water has approved the road and footpath closures with partner agencies and made the site compliant with health and safety regulations, business owners are feeling left hanging. Nunzio's liability insurance told him they could only help with interior damage. He has contacted [[Scottish Water]], George Leslie, Glasgow City Council and his local MP on numerous occasions. 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The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
Scottish Sun
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- Scottish Sun
Viral hit Scots restaurant hits the market just two years after opening
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- The Independent
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