COUNCIL chiefs and MPs say Kent residents should not be stung with large increases in their water bills because of the Government’s extensive house-building programme.

Kent County Council is urging the water watchdog Ofwat to block plans by Southern Water, which supplies most households in the county, for a 45 per cent hike.

The company wants to put up bills to help pay for a £2bn investment programme over the next five years, equivalent to a 7.7 per cent increase each year.

That programme is partly related to the need to improve and extend services as new homes are built in the county.

But county council leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart (Con) said Ofwat and the government should intervene to stop the plans.

Sir Sandy said: “The increased house building is a national issue and it is not right that Kent people should meet the cost. We have carefully estimated the total infrastructure costs for all services at £9.6 billion.

“We have met with The Treasury and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and said that these costs need to be met nationally if Kent is to accept the levels of house-building envisaged by the government.”

Meanwhile, Ashford MP Damian Green, whose constituency would bear the brunt of the Government’s house-building programme, said: “It is absurd and insulting to suggest that our water bills should go up to meet the costs of whatever house-building does take place.

“A lot of people, including me, think the Government is planning to build too many houses too quickly.”

Southern Water’s proposals would see average bills would rise £111 from £247 to £358 over the five-year period.