Firms urged to get their water claims in fast

Water firm United Utilities revealed a £25 million profits hit

Fylde MP Mark Menzies, who last week called the £50 or £60 compensation offer to residential residents ‘derisory’, said it was imperative tourism businesses got their claims in fast.

He said: “Over a busy summer period many tourism-related businesses in Fylde will also have suffered, particularly over the Bank Holiday weekend, and I would urge them to make sure they are putting in claims to United Utilities which reflect that.”.”

Businesses have been told they will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the water firm once they issue a claim for compensation.

Mr Menzies said: “I also have concerns that the £50 to £60 compensation being offered to residential consumers is inadequate and have asked for that to be looked into too.

“While that figure may cover many people’s costs, those with large families or vulnerable relatives may feel that it does little to compensate them for the inconvenience they have been put through.”

Mr Menzies said he was pleased residents in Fylde once again have clean drinking water after the boiled water notice affecting the area was lifted at 7pm on Sunday.

United Utilities confirmed supplies are now back to normal after up to 300,000 homeowners were told they could not drink tap water for almost five weeks when cryptosporidium, a microbial parasite, was discovered at a water treatment plant.

Since the alert, Mr Menzies has been in regular contact with the supplier.

He added: “Since day one I have been extremely supportive of United Utilities and have been in regular contact with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to ensure the company has been getting all the support it needs to get water supplies back to normal.

“I am pleased the problem has now been resolved but want to ensure this does not happen again and that people are appropriately compensated for the inconvenience they have faced over the last five weeks.

“While a full investigation by the Drinking Water Inspectorate is already under way, I have written to the chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and asked if the committee will conduct its own inquiry to ensure the appropriate Parliamentary oversight into this issue.”

Consumers can contact United Utilities via www.unitedutilities.com or 0800 912 7241.