PROPERTY SEARCH

Date Published: 27/09/2022

ARCHIVED - Orihuela to discuss making water cheaper to combat the cost of living crisis

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

Cambiemos Orihuela is proposing reducing water prices to ease pressure on low income families as well as SME's in the Vega Baja municipality, Alicante province

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Orihuela to discuss making water cheaper to combat the cost of living crisis

As fuel and household costs continue to soar, coupled with high inflation rates, families and small businesses in Orihuela are feeling the pinch, exacerbated by an exponential increase in the price of drinking water and sewage supplies.

The latter has been a bone of contention in Orihuela for some time, and once again, the municipal group Cambiemos Orihuela (Let's Change Orihuela), plans to put forward a proposal to make water cheaper to combat the cost of the living crisis and support low and middle income families and residents, as well as small and medium sized businesses.

The proposal will be put before the local council at a plenary session next week and Let's Change Orihuela has requested a meeting with the Water Board - which has not convened since February 2021 - and for the local government to gather reports in order to decree the reduction in water prices.

Let's Change Orihuela spokesperson, María García Sandoval, explained: "Our group has always defended that water is a basic necessity and a fundamental right, as well as the need to regulate prices progressively at a local level. A year ago the People's Party and Cs (Citizens) government approved a permanent increase that we denounced as unjustified.

"Now, given the scenario of high inflation in which we find ourselves, we propose that the local government carries out a reduction of water prices to protect from the impact of the largest price increase in the last thirty years".

Earlier concerns about water and sewage costs raised by the municipal group reportedly brought to light "irregularities" in the provision of the service, which was privatised in the 80s. Consequently, Camiemos Orihuela is arguing that the proposed reduction is financed in part by the water concessionaire.

"The last price increases promoted by the local government were absolutely unjustified, excessive, unnecessary and not even limited in time," claimed the group spokesperson.

She added: "Reducing the price for low and medium incomes and small and medium-sized businesses will mean that many people will free up income for sustainable consumption within the municipality and for many small businesses it will serve to increase their viability and ability to survive."

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