The Rural Dean has forwarded a message from the Archdeacon regarding the real difficulties churches may face because of the proposed changes to the charging schemes for surface and highways water drainage. In some cases churches and places of worship will now face increases in their charges in excess of £1,000 per year as they are being treated in the same way as all other non-household customers. There are several ways in which you are encouraged to help:
• by writing to your local MP expressing your concern
• Downing Street e-petition: this now has over 38,000 signatures (lying first overall). The deadline to register has been extended to 6 April 2009, reflecting the level of interest in the issue. (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ChurchWaterBills/).
• General Synod Motion: the Private Members motion tabled at the York Synod 2008 by Martin Dales (Diocese of York) received 149 signatures during the sessions, rising to second in the lists, and will therefore be debated at the February Sessions 2009.
• Early Day Motion: In July Lindsay Hoyle, Labour MP for Chorley , tabled the EDM below which has attracted 46 signatures:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36468&SESSION=891
