Northern Ireland could soon be facing the prospect of the introduction of water charging. Northern Ireland Water which was formerly known as the Water Service and who is the sole provider of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, is currently sitting on plans for their introduction

On the 10th May 2007 the BBC broke the long awaited news that the threatened introduction by Tony Blair's government would be shelved. However, the nation reeled with anger when the First Minister the Rev. Ian Paisley only detailed the shelving of the plans by the Stormont Executive for the year 2007/2008.

Conor Murphy later told assembly members that there would not now be water charges in Northern Ireland until 2009. In a statement published by the BBC on the 22nd October 2007 he detailed were the necessary funding was coming from.

However, to the anger of the public and business community alike the Water Service announced in February 2008 that it had made an error in its calculations to the tune of £13 million this year and £20 million next year. In April, the Regulator, which dragged their feet, finally announced an investigation in to NI Water, a report which will be published at the end of May 2008. When that report is available ballyhack.co.uk will provide our users with an update.

Editorial

Northern Ireland was under the impression that all parties had promised that water charges would never be introduced. Regardless of whether or not it was said, or implied or even hinted at, we believed our politicians, and there is our first mistake.

We at ballyhack.co.uk are sick to death of spin, elaborate lies dressed up as truth, we should take the MP's and MLA's who have tried to spin us and hang us out to dry and disconnect them from public office.

Despite the plans to introduce this charge in 2009, our users have told us of concerns raised with MLA's on this proposed charge. Issues such as the business model for domestic supply, the mis-calculations, metering and even that the business model used tries to charge households with full facilities the exact same as an un-renovated house next door with an outside loo and one tap. Ballyhack.co.uk would fail in our duty if we did not 
raise the issues affecting the poor, the elderly, the homeless in all but name and a vast number of homes in this condition. We in Northern Ireland have forgotten how far we have come in such a short time, but we left a lot of people behind. One user has told us of one DUP assembly member who was asked to look into this matter and months later, indicated he had done nothing as he thought the correspondence was confidential and has to-date despite repeated requests done nothing. We are unable to mention this assembly man by name, as a complaint is currently being drafted for the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, but it a good example that highlights the attitude of our elected politicians. When it comes  to the real issues affecting us where are they? now that they can't hide behind the old sectarian card. Water Charges is one such issue and I am deafened by their silence, what do you think?  email your views

Our advice to you, is don't turn your water works on when they are turning your water works off. Make your voice heard now, even if it doesn't really affect you, cause you can afford it, consider those that can't and stand with them!.