WESSEX Water's draft plans for maintenance, improvements and prices during 2005-2010 have the support of watchdog WaterVoice Wessex.

Sheila Reiter, WaterVoice Wessex chairman, said: "The company has presented a balanced package of maintenance and improvements that we believe customers would be prepared to pay for.

"Our number-one priority has been reducing the numbers of those at risk of internal sewer flooding and addressing the worst cases of external flooding.

"We are pleased that Wessex Water has included extensive plans to tackle sewer flooding during 2005-2010.

"We particularly approve of the company's approach of not including works that do not represent good value for money."

However, she said, WaterVoice did feel that Wessex Water's draft plans were light on detail and did not spell out the benefits that customers would see from taking action on issues.

WaterVoice has supported Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water's draft plans for maintenance and improvements during 2005-10, but has concerns about the cost.

Sheila Reiter said: "The average 9.5 per cent price rise in the first year, followed by 4.4 per cent each year, plus inflation, are unacceptably high and will be difficult to manage for those on fixed incomes and pensioners.

"We have asked Ofwat to see how this increase can be kept to a minimum," she said.

"We agree that money spent on reducing the taste of chlorine in drinking water will receive support from customers.

"We also support increasing maintenance levels to ensure customers continue to receive good quality water.

"We believe metering is the fairest way to pay for water and we support the company's plans to install more meters."

The public can express views on price rises by e-mailing wessex@watervoice.org.uk.