'No' to private water charges

Farmers in Clwyd have reacted angrily to proposals from the Welsh Assembly Government to charge for private water supplies on Welsh farms and domestic premises.

Meeting at The Brookhouse Mill, Denbigh this week, NFU Cymru members commented on how the Welsh Assembly Government should make far greater use of the flexibility available to them already, rather than gold-plate European requirements, in relation to charging both small domestic farmhouse and Welsh farm businesses substantial sums of money for the testing of their private water supplies.

NFU Cymru County Chairman Richard Tomlinson said, "This is a case of bureaucracy gone mad. These proposals are so unnecessary and we’re completely opposed to the potential costs of the new requirements estimated to be £125 per year for small domestic premises and up to £435 per year for commercial activities.

"The Assembly Government should recognise the benefits already being delivered through existing controls, such as the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006, which are already in place to ensure clean and safe water supplies.

"The Food Hygiene Regulations require potable water to be used and cover establishments such as bed and breakfast accommodation as well as other food preparation units, so it begs the question why the Welsh Assembly Government is minded to implement these new regulations without acknowledging the checks already being delivered through these existing requirements. Why impose additional, duplicate controls?"

Mr Tomlinson added, "In addition, similar sampling and checking to that proposed is also made for farm assurance scheme purposes and indeed by the private supply users themselves."

"As an industry and indeed as a society we must always seek to avoid duplication of work and unnecessary additional costs. Change to the status quo is not necessary in this instance. There is no evidence to prove that measures already in existence are not effective and adding another tier of legislation with more cost is totally unnecessary and unjustifiable."

"It is clear to us that in this case our Government’s commitment to reduce the red tape and cost burden on industry appears to have been totally forgotten."