Long welcomes GCC role for water consumers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Aug 2004

The Alliance Party Regional Development Spokesperson, Cllr Naomi Long MLA, has welcomed the announcement by John Spellar that the General Consumer Council is to become the consumer representative body for water users in Northern Ireland.

Naomi Long said: "It is clear that how we use and pay for water and sewerage services as a society is going to be one of the most important debates over the next few years, with long term implications for every household in Northern Ireland. It is vital that the voice of water users is heard clearly in that debate and that their interests are protected.

"The General Consumer Council has an excellent track record of campaigning on behalf of consumers, working closely with elected representatives. I hope that this new role will help to ensure that the debate about reform of water and sewerage services is an open, transparent and fully informed one and that the interests of vulnerable members of society in particular will be fully represented."

ENDS

NOTE: Naomi Long is a Civil Engineer with professional experience in water and sewerage services planning and design.