By Conor Sharkey

LOCAL lobbying group Communities Against Water Tax (CAWT) has challenged all political parties to sit down in public and clarify their position on water charges.

A 'No Water Charges' campaign by CAWT has gathered speed in recent weeks, following a recent admission by Sinn Fein that charges would be phased in over the next three years.

But the lobbying group's arguement is that the people of the North have already paid for the upkeep and repair of the sewage infrastructure, only for the money to be siphoned off to pay for the British military campaign here.

So if we have paid once, why should we be expected to pay again, CAWT spokesperson Paul Gallagher is asking.

In a statement earlier this week, the eight strong Sinn Fein grouping on Strabane District Council said that they remain fully committed to the promises made to their electorate and that no one will be expected to pay twice for water and sewerage services.

"Sinn Fein believes that public trust and confidence was eroded in the entire Direct Rule water reform process. Our Party under d'Hont took the Department for Regional Development chair and immediately set out very clear terms for the review of the situation, appointing water poverty expert Professor Paddy Hillyard to lead an independent panel to examine all options in two reports, (1) funding water and sewerage services and; (2) management, governance and delivery of these services.

"Sinn Fein's Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy ruled out privatisation within the terms of reference for the panel's review and made it clear that these public services will operate within full public ownership now and in the future.

"Our party made a clear public commitment to the electorate and will ensure that people will not have to pay twice for water and sewerage services," the local Sinn Fein bloc said.

Vowing to support the Executive in the delivery of the recommendations of the Review, beginning with a public consultation in autumn 2008, the councillors added: "Our water and sewerage infrastructure is in a crumbling state and requires huge investment.

"This is a legacy of British Direct Rule in the six counties. Sinn Fein have at every opportunity raised the need for a peace dividend with the British Government to address the infrastructure deficit the executive have inherited and will continue to do so.

"As part of the Investment Strategy, £650m will be invested in our water and sewerage infrastructure over the next three years to improve environmental standards, maintain high levels of clean drinking water, modernise the water and sewerage network and contribute to alleviating the risk of flooding.

"Sinn Fein are committed to achieving the best services at the lowest possible cost and on the basis of: Opposition to any double charge for water; return to the system where water and rates form one single bill; protection for those least able to pay; opposition to privatisation; ensuring the service remains in full public ownership and is accountable to the institutions and opposition to domestic metering," they said.

But according to CAWT's Mr Gallagher, the statement still doesn't clarify in black and white just where the party stands on the water issue.

"On one hand Sinn Fein admit the infrastructure is crumbling and that the British Government have siphoned off money we have already paid. They admit they have failed to get it back through a peace dividend and regardless of the fancy language in this statement, what it boils down to is that the Minister is going to make us pay twice for water. There is no ambiguity here.

"Communities Against Water Tax would ask Sinn Fein this. Are they bringing water charges in, or are they not?

"With regards to a public debate, we would be more than happy to sit down with all political parties to discuss this and get everyone's views out there in the open so as to let the public know exactly where they stand on water charges," he said.