Don't let that title mislead you; we are not having a collection for Thames Water..
Next week, something very big is happening.
Do you want to be there?
On Tuesday, 11th March, the Appeal Court will start to hear the case for the public interest in the ultra-expensive, and we say futile, Thames Water restructuring plan.
WASP put the original intervention into motion in December and highlighted it outside the Royal Courts of Justice. We saw that, incredibly, and clearly wrongly, there was no one representing the billpayer or public and knew we had to act.
The government, Ofwat, and the Consumer Council for Water, all with a duty to represent us, were inexplicably missing from action when they were needed.
The case on Tuesday will be heard in the Rolls Building Fetter Lane, London. The appeal against the High Court Decision to allow the plan will be presented by Barrister William Day, assisted by Barristers Riz Mokal, Rabin Kok, Niamh Davis and Lucas Jones, supported by an excellent team from Solicitors Marriott Harrison led by Brett Israel and Simon de Broise. This entire team is representing the public for free instructed, on behalf of the customer and public, by our MP, Charlie Maynard (Witney).
Our previous blogs explain what we are trying to achieve, but if you are new to this, very briefly; we want Thames Water to be put into Special Administration where it can be examined at a sensible and effective pace so that the interests, of the public, company staff, and the country can be protected from financial predation, and an effective fix established.
Special Administration is a process specially designed for this situation for very good reason - the alternative, allowing company bosses and financial interests to force a detailed examination of a massively complex issue into a few weeks, and to overwhelm judges with information which may or may not be correct, is totally unreasonable and no way to run an essential utility.
To let Thames Water carry on as it is will mean just under £1billion of customers' money being wasted on legal fees, advisors and interest payments in the next 6 months alone and with nothing more than a bridging loan to nowhere being made.
The reality is that the billpayer and taxpayer are, as always, lined up to clean up and pay for the mess after the predators and parasites have taken all they can from the company -and that is why we have to intervene.
Four things you can do:
Join us outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London at 1115 where fellow campaigners, WeOwnIt will arrange a peaceful demonstration for support for the appeal case. Banners and artwork are welcome.
Attend the Court at the Rolls Building, Fetter Lane and watch the case in person if there is space (unlikely) or on video in an adjoining courtroom. It will start at 10am and is listed for three days. You will not be allowed to take banners into the courts but staff may allow you to leave them at the security checkpoint. the hearing is listed for three days and we will tell you when you can expect to hear the decision as soon as we know.
Watch it from home on this link - make sure you follow guidance on recordings
If you are a Thames Water Customer, write to or email your MP, to tell them what you want to happen. Other key addresses are in our previous blog
Looking forward to the meeting of members outside the Royal Court of Justice. I am coming from Cranleigh and will be there at the required time of 11.15 and looking forward to it. Interesting I am going into Waterloo station, let’s hope the day will be our Waterloo.
Regards
Phil Hiles
Thank you all for what you are doing. I regret that family matters prevent us from attending the demonstration at the Royal Courts in person. We shall try to watch the link you have provided. But please know that our family fully welcomes and greatly appreciates all you people are doing on all our behalf. And if we can make a donation to assist the process and/or defray the costs of those able to attend, please do say so.
Very warm regards,
Rich Rollinson