Some local United Reformed churches are facing crippling increases in the amount they pay for “surface water disposal”.

Traditionally, charities and others who operated community buildings like village halls were not charged, because drainage charges were linked to rateable value, and charities and community projects did not pay full rates. But that has now changed. Ofwat, the water regulator, has given the water companies until 2010 to start billing all users for the disposal of water through public sewers. These charges have already been levied by four water companies: Northumbria, Severn-Trent, United Utilities and Yorkshire.

Through the Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service, the United Reformed Church and other Churches have been pressing Ofwat and the government on the issue. Sheila Duncan, property officer for the Yorkshire Synod, who represents the URC on CLAS, said: “The results vary hugely across the areas where the new regime has been put in place. In some areas, it doesn’t seem to be a problem, but some churches in North West and North East England are suffering crippling increases.”

Recent parliamentary answers have indicated that government is concerned about the impact of the new charging regime and there is some hope that they and Ofwat will reconsider. A petition to the Prime Minister already contains more than 42,000 names and is available until April 6 at Petition to: instruct water companies to return to charging churches as charities rather than as business premises. Number10.gov.uk.

Advice for local churches is available on the Ofwat site, at Ofwat, Surface water drainage charges: the current position.

Picture: Downpipes at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Rowley Fields, Leicester, courtesy Ned Trifle, http://flickr.com/photos/nedtrifle/2246050751/