WATER bills in Bournemouth are going up by less than the rate of inflation – but residents around other parts of Dorset will see a rise above that level.

Sembcorp Bournemouth, which covers Parkstone, Canford Cliffs eastern Poole, Christchurch and north Dorset, as well as the western half of the New Forest, is keeping the rise as low as possible.

The firm announced a 3.5 per cent rise in water bills, compared to an industry average increase of 5.7 per cent, and an inflation rate of 5.2 per cent.

Managing director Roger Harrington told the Echo: “We have been one of the lower cost companies for a while and it’s our aim to keep it that way.”

Wessex Water’s combined water and sewerage bill is going up by 6 per cent.

Ofwat gave the green light to the increases and said it balanced residents’ pay problems with the water companies’ investment plans.

Richard Bristow from Poole CAB said: “The people we see are mostly on very low incomes, benefits or low paid work. “Where they have debts and are on strict budgets these increases mean that the whole budget has to be re-examined.”