WEAVER Vale MP Mike Hall has introduced a Parliamentary Bill to help small community groups.

He introduced the 10-Minute Rule Bill to exempt places of worship, community sports clubs, Scout groups and guide associations from paying surface area and highway charges.

It comes about after United Utilities, with the backing of water regulator OFWAT, changed the way non-households pay these charges. This left the small groups facing massive increases in their water bills. Some will see them rise from zero to £2,000 per annum.

Following a concerted one year campaign against the change, UU decided to freeze the charges at 2008/09 levels for those groups, for a year, not so they could be axed but so they could be better explained to the groups.

Mr Hall said: “A 12-month delay on implementing the changes to the way these groups pay for surface water and highway drainage is not the answer.

“Many of these groups will not be able to afford their increased water bills and be forced to close.

“Exempting them from surface area and highway drainage charging is what is needed. I am therefore delighted the House of Commons give me permission to bring forward a Bill to achieve this exemption.”