YOUR recent article and editorial (LET, August 5) referring to the activities of North West Water should be warmly welcomed. It becomes harder each day to justify the activities of this utility company.

First, they announce levels of profit based on a monopoly business, seemingly oblivious to the need of the community.

Secondly, the chairman, executive and non-executive directors have voted themselves the largest salary increases of any of the water utilities and of all the privatised utilities. It is no surprise that chairman Sir Desmond Pitcher, is now known as the 'fattest of the fat cats.'

Thirdly, the utility has just lost its second chief executive for what is known as 'unacceptable behaviour.' Perhaps this is becomning an unfortunate occurrence. Maybe the public who have to fund these executives should be told the real reasons.

As consumers of water and electricity in the region, we live in a different world of:

Increasing charges

Over 30 per cent of water lost through leakage

The lowest investment level of any of the utilities

The introduction of pre-payment devices, depriving the most vulnerable in society of a water supply

Pre-payment charges on average 15 per cent higher than other methods such as direct debit, not available to the poorest in the community

The closure in Blackburn and Darwen of electricity showrooms, making bill payment more difficult.

Your call for more meaningful regulation in the interests of the consumer, not the shareholders, is most welcome.

Your readers should be aware that the North West and North Wales Local Government Forum Against Poverty, along with our colleagues in South Wales, have instigated a major commission on utility regulation to advise government on how best to meet the consumers' interests.

Any statutory or voluntary body, or especially individuals who wish to contribute to this major inquiry, can contact me at Blackburn Council.

COUN MIKE BARRETT (Chair, North West and North Wales Local Government Forum against Poverty), Anchor Avenue, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.