A WATER company has been accused of attempting to "bribe" Watford Council so it can avoid supplying softened water to the town's residents

Three Valleys Water said it was prepared to donate thousands of pounds in sponsorship money if the council tore up a contract that compelled the company to supply softened water.

But Conservative councillor Jan Brown has attacked the move by the company, claiming it was trying to bribe the council.

In a letter to Watford Council, Three Valleys' head of external affairs Frank Fitzpatrick offered the following incentives:

sponsorship of the Rainbow Festival's environment fair to the tune of £8,000 a year

an annual bursary of £5,000 to fund community projects

provision of an emergency vehicle costing £10,000

assistance with a campaign to restore the gates at Cassiobury Park

assistance with the fitting of water-conserving "Hippos" at selected council homes

Should the council accept the offer, it would lose its right to compel the company to soften Watford's water.

A report to Watford Council's environmental health and licensing committee states: "When the water undertaking owned by Watford Council was sold to Colne Valley Water Company in 1973, an agreement was entered into which required the water company to partially soften the naturally hard water prior to delivery.

"When Colne Valley Water was taken on by Three Valleys Water Company, they took on board this commitment."

It added: "There is no adverse medical effect caused by the suspension of softening of water, especially where the degree of softening is minimal. Watford's water has never been completely softened - just reduced in hardness."

According to environmental health officer Peter Wright the offers made by the water company represented a "win-win" situation.

He said: "The water company wants to work in partnership with the council and the community and has put together a set of proposals that will benefit the community."

But Tory councillor Mrs Jan Brown said: "If there are no adverse effects, why have they been wasting all this money softening water for the past 25 years?

"This looks like a bit of a bribe. Hard water causes limescale and why do we have to spend so much money on water filters in this area? If Three Valleys were getting nothing out of this, why are they so keen to stump up so much money?"

A Three Valleys representative said: "If people think this a bribe, they have got the wrong end of the stick. We are working with the council on projects that will benefit the local community."

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