CHURCHES and charities have launched a campaign to fight plans to introduce water charges.
Both groups are exempt or have relief from paying charges, but Scottish Government proposals would see this privilege end in 2010.
This would mean churches and charitable organisations would be treated in the same way as businesses and would have
to pay full water charges.
Campaigners claim this could have a major impact, with some churches facing bills of up to £1,000 a year. As a result, some may have to close and charities may be forced to shut down. Opponents believe it would cost only £2.4 million a year to maintain the exemption in Scotland.
Rev Jock Stein, of the Church of Scotland Dunfermline Presbytery, said: "Church premises are used by all kinds of community bodies, including groups like mothers and toddlers, Scouts, Guides and Alcoholics Anonymous. Often, these bodies simply make an annual donation as and when they are able.
"As a national church, we are extremely concerned about the additional burden of water charges.
"The ending of the current exemption would mean that many congregations will be forced to either reduce services, start charging or hike their existing rates."
The campaign includes a petition to maintain the current reliefs and exemptions, which will be submitted to the Scottish Parliament.
• Union chiefs will today call for greater "democratisation" in the running of Scottish Water. Unison's Dave Watson will say calls for the privatisation or "mutualisation" of the utility should be rejected.
