By Liz Fowler

TENANTS IN a Montrose sheltered housing complex have been shocked to receive an extra council tax bill demanding a substantial one-off payment for water services.

Following complaint, the Scottish water authority yesterday promised to contact their customers in the Servite Housing complex in Station Close to explain the demand and address concerns.

But it wasn’t enough to calm stormy waters, with tenant Ann Sim vexed at what she calls high-handed treatment.

To add insult to injury, she says most of the time her water is undrinkable.

She said, “The water in these houses tastes awful... I have to buy bottled water. Quite a few of us do. It’s quite a trauchle as I can’t carry it home from the supermarket and have to get a taxi.”

The bill landed on doormats in Station Close in the week between Christmas and New Year. In the case of Mrs Sim, the demand was for £97.96. It was made under the heading of water and sewerage charges with no other explanation.

She said, “Some people have been charged over £100. That’s a huge unexpected bill for a pensioner. It’s a week’s pension. It certainly put a damper on Christmas.

“I have paid my bill. Fortunately I was able to do so. But it is quite shocking for something like this to come in when you think you are all up to date with your council tax.

“With everything closed over the festive season, I couldn’t get in touch with anybody until January 7, but then I just got the runaround.

“I went to the Angus Council offices on the High Street. They sent me to the Servite people and they passed me to the water authority. The water authority directed me to the council tax offices in Monifieth!”

A letter eventually issued to tenants from the Servite housing officer for Montrose only added to the confusion.

It says, “Angus Council has confirmed they recently received information from Scottish Water who advised that in error they had not charged for water.

“Angus Council was instructed to start charging from the current financial year 01/04/07. Should any tenants have difficulties paying, they should contact Angus Council to make arrangements to pay by instalments.”

Yesterday the council was unable to shed light on the matter.

“It seems to me a mistake has been made and nobody is willing to put their hands up,” said Mrs Sim.

“I can’t imagine the panic among some of the people here when they got this unexpected extra demand for money. They don’t speak up because they are too frightened.

“I think it was wrong to demand the money in a one-off payment. If indeed it is really owing, it could have been added to this year’s council tax bill. That would only have amounted to an extra £10 a month which wouldn’t be such a hardship.”

A spokesman for Scottish Water said, “We understand the concerns of customers in Standard Close. At the start of December the complex switched from a communal metered business supply to households being individually charged through council tax. These bills reflect the charges for water and wastewater services for the period.

“We will be contacting the customers directly to address any individual concerns...”