Thanet County Court, Margate, on Thursday 19 March at 1.15 pm
by
Whitstable-based author and environmental campaigner, Julie Wassmer, faces imminent court action for her 4-year payment boycott of Southern Water which she has maintained in protest against the company’s unacceptable sewage pollution record.
See news story in The Times: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/i-will-fight-woman-faces-court-after-4-year-water-bill-boycott-clean-it-up-5rmcxvp73
An important pre-court protest will take place this Thursday 19 March at 1.15 pm outside Thanet County Court in Cecil Square, Margate CT9 1RL – although the court hearing has been postponed for another week.
The Boycott Water Bills co-founder explains “My first court date was scheduled for February in Canterbury then moved at short notice to Thursday 19 March at Margate. I’ve now been notified of a new date back in Canterbury – but our original protest WILL go ahead this week on Thursday in Margate as there is so much support for the cause – and because my court date could move yet again due to ‘lack of judicial time’.”
Water campaigners from both Kent and Sussex, along with TV news, national media and members of the local Green Party are expected to attend Thursday’s protest.
Julie says “My fellow Boycott Water Bills campaigners, Katy Colley and Olivia Cavanagh will be travelling from Sussex to speak at this event, and, as the re-nationalisation of our water industry is a core policy of the Green Party, I’m also pleased to welcome Rob Yates and Andy Harvey as Green Party speakers on the day.”
Julie continues: “Southern Water is a criminal company – a serious serial offender regarding sewage pollution and I aim to highlight how UK water companies are evading responsibility for poor service via a selective use of the Water Industry Act 1991.”
ALL WELCOME. You can make a stand simply by spreading the word and if you can come to Thursday’s protest, feel free to bring banners, friends and family members for a united people’s protest against the legalised scam our water industry has become.
Julie’s local councillor’s statement follows here:
"I fully support Julie's brave stand against the unacceptable levels of sewage pollution caused by Southern Water. Residents are quite rightly fed up with paying huge water bills to a private company that fails to deliver even a basic level of service."
Stuart Heaver
Councillor
Green Party
Gorrell Ward, Whitstable (CCC)
Whitstable West (KCC)
Statement from Councillor Mark Hood:
"We fully support Julie Wassmer who has bravely stood up to the water companies whose monopoly has been a disaster for Kent and our environment and who have consistently put profit before tackling pollution.
"Nonpayment isn't a course of action which people take lightly but when Julie became aware of Southern Water's record of sewage pollution to the beaches and seas she loves, she decided that she had no other choice.
"The water industry needs to be returned to public ownership so that every penny of profit can be used to improve infrastructure instead of paying shareholders."
Mark Hood
Councillor for Tonbridge Division
Leader of the Green Group
Kent County Council
For more information about boycotting payment for wastewater charges see: www.boycottwaterbills.com
For more information about Julie’s case, see:
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