WATER PRESSURE

Big hike in bills sparks plans for Poll Tax-style non-payment campaign

- SALLY HIND

A POLL Tax-style non-payment campaign is being organised to fight a hike in water bills.

Council taxpayers will be urged to refuse payments – amid claims that water bill hikes will drive the most vulnerable deeper into poverty.

Scottish Water was last month accused of sitting on a £391million “cash stash” as household bills were projected to rise by an average of two per cent above inflation for years.

Now those living in social and rented housing are being encouraged to engage in a “mass nonpayment campaign” against the hikes.

The campaign would mirror the Poll Tax non-payment campaign led by socialist campaigner Tommy Sheridan in 1989.

Fury over the unfair tax led to mass non-payment – and the fall-out from the row helped topple Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher.