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HOSEPIPE BAN IS A "PUBLICITY STUNT"

Local residents are learning to live with a hosepipe ban amid claims that the measures could have been avoided.

Folkestone and Dover Water brought in restrictions yesterday and South East Water is extending its ban to cover residents in north Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire.

The moves follow the worst period of drought in the South East for a century, with firms warning that even more stringent limits could be required in the summer unless there is heavy rainfall.

But the 700,000 strong GMB union said o­nly 7% of the total rainfall was used by the public in the South East  and the bans would not have been necessary if more reservoirs had been built in good time.

Gary Smith, national officer, said: "GMB water workers can tell the public that not enough rainwater is collected and used. The rainwater is there. Even in the areas with least rainfall per person we are still using less then 10 per cent of it.

"We need new reservoirs, particularly in the South of England. We need to change building regulations to ensure that rainwater falling o­n to houses is used for gardening and non-domestic uses. Water fittings in properties need to be appropriate to the areas where people live."

The gardening industry has also reacted with anger to the ban, claiming it was nothing more than a "publicity stunt."

Horticultural Trades Association spokesman David Gilchrist said it was important to clarify to people that they could still water their gardens, using watering cans and called for a Government review of hosepipe bans.