14 December 2005
A new consumer water body has been established in the West Midlands, the Birmingham Post has reported.
The Consumer Council for Water Midlands (CCWM) is a subsidiary of the national consumer water group the Consumer Council for Water. The organisation will have more powers than WaterVoice Central, the group that it replaced.
The body aims to represent customers of Seven Trent and South Staffordshire Water, and will report direct to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural affairs.
"Water customers can expect to reap the benefits from our new powers, as this will mean that we can do more on their behalf. For example, we can monitor water companies' performance more closely and we now have more powers to investigate customers' complaints," said chairman Sir James Perowne.
Mr Perowne said he aimed to reduce the need for consumer complaints by helping companies provide a better service.
"If consumers know that there is an organisation such as ours that is on their side I am sure it will help them to feel re-assured when they are experiencing difficulties with their water company," he added.
Consumers who wish to speak to the body can call 0845 039 2837.
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