Alliance leads coalition against water charges

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Aug 2005

Alliance Party Councillors are spearheading a campaign of support for the Campaign Against Water Charges. On Wednesday night [24 August], the motion of support in Ards Borough Council was proposed by Alliance Alderman Kieran McCarthy, with other Alliance members set to follow suit.

Alderman McCarthy, MLA for Strangford, stated, "I had no hesitation in proposing a motion of support for the Coalition against Water Charges. The simple fact is we already pay for water delivery, and the public should not be punished for the Water Service's inefficiencies."

North Down Councillor, Ian James Parsley, concurred, stating: "It is very easy for people to say they oppose extra charges, but only Alliance offers a real vision of a society that does not require them. The simple fact is that, with the right political leadership, such unfair taxes are unnecessary.

"If our political representatives were prepared to tackle the real challenge of integrating our society, rather than wasting billions on artificial segregation, there would be plenty of money left over. This money would pay for a high-class water delivery service and high-class local public services without water charges or regional rate hikes.

"Once again the vulnerable in our society are punished for the irresponsibility of our political leaders. We must work towards a complete end to what is effectively a segregation tax."

ENDS