It comes after some privatised utilities introduced
new ways to charge for the water which pours off
church roofs into the drains from April.
The charges, which apply to "non-household customers",
are calculated on the site area of the building
and its surrounding hardstanding. Previously they
were based on rateable value and churches, as charities,
were eligible to an 80 per cent reduction.
Malton Town Cllr Martin Dales, a lay member for the
York Diocese on the General Synod, plans to raise the
issue at its next meeting.
And on Teesside a churchwarden has launched
a petition on the Prime Minister's website
which has attracted 600 signatures in its first
month.
North Thornaby churchwarden David Boddy
said: "I was astounded to receive a 1,300 per cent
increase in our church's water bill. I cannot
understand why churches should be targeted in
this way. It is not our fault we have inherited
such large buildings and we struggle to maintain
them as they are. They exist for the use of
parishioners so I hope people will add their
names to the petition (http://petitions.
pm.gov.uk/ChurchWaterBills/) and that public
pressure will result in a change of heart by the
water companies."
Meanwhile, Mr Dales, who lives in Old
Malton, is drafting a Private Member's Motion
for the Synod requesting the Government to
direct Ofwat to instruct water companies to
return to the practice of charging churches as
charities rather than as businesses.
He said: "It is quite clear that confusion reigns
up and down the country with some water companies'
customer services giving out different and often conflicting
advice.
"I would encourage churches to challenge their bills
if they are too high and indeed know of churches that
have been successful in gaining a reduction."
As a direct result of the pressure on parishes the
Churches Main Committee, which liaises between
churches and "the machinery of government" including
utility companies, is meeting with officials