OKEHAMPTON is to feel the benefit of South West Water's £168-million investment and charges package for 2013 and 2014.

Okehampton will be included in a programme of upgrades to water treatment works, reservoirs, and pipe networks across the South West, including Plymouth, East and South Devon, and West and South East Cornwall. The works are part of a £700-million plus programme between 2010 and 2015 which supports 4,500 jobs in the wider regional economy.

Sewers will be renewed at Moretonhampstead and other towns across the region, while more apprenticeship opportunities are to be created for youngsters in the South West.

Around 700,000 household customers of South West Water will soon see a new item titled 'Government Contribution' on their bills, confirming a £50 annual reduction will be applied from this April.

This flat rate deduction, a pledge within the Coalition Government's original working agreement, will be paid every year to 2020. It means the average annual household bill for water and sewerage in South West Water's service area will fall by 7.3% to £499, at a time when water and energy bills elsewhere are still rising.

Around 13,000 customers switching to a meter are also forecast to reduce their bills by an average of between £300 and £400 this year. Exact charges paid by customers will vary according to the services they use, their tariff, the rateable value of their property or the amount of water they use.

South West Water chief executive Chris Loughlin said: 'It's vital we continue to invest because having up-to-date water and sewerage infrastructure is just as important as good rail and road links and high speed broadband.

'We know what we do underpins the quality of life we all enjoy in the South West and also helps local businesses grow.

'We know the cost in the past of modernising particularly our sewerage network has been high for customers, which is why we are particularly pleased the £50 reduction will be implemented from this year onward.

'Thank you to the Government and Defra for making the reduction a reality and thanks to everyone including MPs of all parties, the Consumer Council for Water, pensioner groups and the regional media who together with thousands of individual customers helped build a successful case for the region alongside us over many years.

'Household customers will have the reduction automatically and clearly applied to their bills.

'They need take no action, just look out for the line 'Government Contribution' on your bill during 2013/14.'