Last updated at 08:57, Tuesday, 21 July 2009

A Penrith man who took his sports club’s fight for fairer water charges to the Houses of Parliament has hailed the campaign “an overwhelming success”.

However, Government ministers have ruled out automatically exempting churches and non-profit-making groups from the new, higher, water charges.

Penrith rugby club has been fighting a long-running battle to slash its water rates after being hit by a bill for more than £11,000.

Treasurer Chris Lilley spoke at the All Party Parliamentary Scout Group meeting as part of a campaign to ‘Stop the Rain Tax’ last week.

Mr Lilley, who joined other sports clubs, church groups and The Scout Association at the event, said: “It was an overwhelming success. All parties were highly critical of United Utilities and Ofwat and it definitely had an impact.”

But the decision by ministers not to automatically exempt sports clubs from the charges paves the way for United Utilities to continue with the higher bills.

First published at 11:29, Monday, 20 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk