A BARRHEAD man is spearheading a nationwide campaign against plans to increase the cost of water.

Sean Clerkin, of the Scottish Tenants Organisation (STO), is urging people not to pay their council tax this year, in protest at a proposed hike.

He claims proposed rises in the price of water over the next six years will force the poorest in council areas like East Renfrewshire into even more debt.

The STO has accused publicly-owned Scottish Water of sitting on a cash surplus of almost half a billion pounds.

Mr Clerkin, who lives in the Aurs Road area of town, insists that money should instead be used to give cash-strapped householders discounts on their bills.

He has urged homeowners to take part in a mass non-payment similar to the Poll Tax protests of 1989.

The STO has also written to all of Scotland’s MSPs to ask for their backing.

Mr Clerkin, who is their campaign co-ordinator, told the Barrhead News: “We’re demanding that water charges are frozen for the next six years from 2021 and all domestic water debts are written off.

“It’s vitally important that we reduce the financial burden on our most vulnerable people.

“Given the large surplus that Scottish Water has generated and the fact that we’re going through very hard times financially as a result of the pandemic, there should be no price increase at all.

“We will shortly be organising a mass non-payment campaign across Scotland if none of these demands are met.

“If the increases go ahead, then water poverty is going to be a real hardship for people in East Renfrewshire.”

The STO has said East Renfrewshire householders on Band A, the lowest council tax rate, will see their water bill rise by £95 over the next six years.

That could rise to £141 for people living in higher Band D properties.

A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “Customers’ views across Scotland helped to inform the setting of charges for 2021/22 and over the longer term.

“Our announcement of charges for the next 12 months included increased provision to support those who need it most – 446,000 households will receive reductions in their water and waste water charges.”