WATER bills in Yorkshire are to soar over the next five years by 18 per cent - before inflation.

The price hike - higher than was originally being proposed in the summer, but lower than Yorkshire Water had wanted - will see the average bill leap from £243 this year to £288 by 2009/10.

In York, where prices have been lower since the takeover of the old York Waterworks company by Yorkshire Water, the average bill will rise from £212 this year to £253 by 2009/10.

The first increase comes next April, when average bills across the region will rise by £11, excluding inflation, and by £10 in York.

The water regulator Ofwat said the rises would enable Yorkshire Water to invest nearly £1.5 billion to safeguard water supplies and sewage treatment, improve water quality and clean up rivers and coastal waters. It would end the "scourge" of overloaded sewers flooding inside properties.

But the customers' watchdog, WaterVoice, warned that the rises would cause serious difficulties to many customers in Yorkshire, who would find them neither affordable nor acceptable.

Chairman Mohammed Ajeeb called on the Government to take steps to help people on low and fixed incomes. "This should include using the existing tax credits and benefits system to provide assistance with water bills," he said.

He said the organisation would be debating the increases with Yorkshire Water at a public meeting at 10.30 am next Tuesday at the Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge, when the company would be asked where the money would be spent.

Ofwat said the increases nationally struck the right balance, ensuring that Yorkshire Water had enough to continue providing high-quality services, but no more than was necessary.

The £45 increase, which is in line with the national average increase of £46, appears to be a compromise between the £50 rise which Yorkshire Water had been pressing for and Ofwat's original draft price rise of £36.

Peter Fletcher, director general of water services, said Ofwat had considered customers and environmental groups' comments carefully, taken into account guidance from Government ministers and listened to Yorkshire Water.

Updated: 10:02 Thursday, December 02, 2004