The unelected quango the South East England Regional Assembly (Seera) is now calling for every household in Brighton and Hove to be put on a water meter.

The call is backed by Lewes MP Norman Baker, who says it will reduce water consumption. He cites the case of the Isle of Wight, where water meters were compulsorily introduced and after the first year the water consumption had reduced.

However, he fails to say that from the second year onwards the level of water consumption rose far above the pre-water meter level, indicating that water meters do not save water but do enable water companies to raise prices more than once a year.

Last year in the drought, the chairman of Seera said there was no water shortage. So why is he now calling for compulsory water meters? It can only be so prices can be increased.

Seera recognises compulsory meters would mean a huge increase in water prices for those living in council houses and also for those with large families.

The present system works well enough and should not be altered without full discussion with council tax payers.

It is time to get rid of the regional assembly. All voters should ask their local candidates at tomorrow's election if they are willing to take Brighton and Hove City Council out of Seera. If they will not give such an undertaking then do not vote for them.

Voters in the North East overwhelmingly rejected such an assembly and we in the South East should not have had this quango imposed upon us by John Prescott without the opportunity to vote on it.

  • B Bayliss, Mornington Crescent, Hove