Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall

The South West Team of Liberal Democrat MPs for Devon and Cornwall has slammed government plans to dilute consumer representation for the area on water bills and rail transport.

The group has launched a strong campaign against the bills which Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon said in a Commons debate this week were causing 'anger bordering on rage' in South West Water customers.

Following the debate, the Liberal Democrat MPs met representatives of Watervoice South West, which currently speaks specifically for Devon and Cornwall. Dr Noel Olsen, the well-respected Watervoice Chair announced he would be stepping down from the post next month and that following his departure the government are to merge the group's Chairmanship with that in the Western Counties.

Ministers are also planning to amalgamate the highly respected Western Rail Passengers Committee into one body for the South West.

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, commented, "In the very week when local Members of Parliament take forward the campaign to end the astronomical water charges in our area ? for which we received strong support in the election ? the government has dealt a hammer-blow to South West Water customers."

"And they want to weaken our Rail Passengers Committee too, just as we?re threatening a tough fight, supported by Charles Kennedy, for our sleeper service."

North Cornwall MP, Dan Rogerson said, "The government may think they can dilute the effectiveness of Watervoice but they will never water down our resolve to put a stop to high water charges in the region and save sleeper services, the loss of which would cause incalculable harm to the local economy."