A message from United Utilities – Heard of our Priority Services Register?
As you know, United Utilities is the water and wastewater company that serves over 7 million customers in over 3 million homes right across the North West, and we have been doing a lot over the past couple of years to improve our services in giving more support to those who need it most.
We all need a little bit of extra help at some stage in our lives. This could be due to age, ill health, a disability, mental health problems, financial worries or even language barriers. By registering for our free Priority Services scheme, customers could benefit from additional free services from us, to support their particular needs, including:
- A free phone number connecting them to a dedicated, externally trained team, to listen, help and support
- Nominate a carer, family member or even a friend to speak to us on their behalf
- A knock and wait service, so if they have mobility needs we’ll always wait, allowing them enough time to answer the door
- We’ll notify them of any planned interruptions to their water supply
- Bills and letters could be printed in braille, large print or even on coloured paper
- Add a password to their account as added protection from bogus callers
- Translation services if English isn’t their first language
- Help and advice if they’re struggling to pay their water bill
For customers with internet access, there’s even an online accessibility tool, changing the look of our website to suit their needs. All they have to do is click on the ‘Accessibility Help’ button on the bottom right of each page of our website.
This is where we need your help as offering the service is the easy part. As the onus is on the customer to register, if we don’t know they are experiencing difficulties, we can’t help. We are already working with many charities and organisations to help us promote the scheme, including Rural England, Age UK, MIND, Macmillan Cancer Support, Citizens Advice, Disability Awareness, Autism Together, Lancashire Fire Service and Silver Line. We feel it’s also extremely important to target our customers that live in rural areas in our region, however, getting information out to them can sometimes be difficult, so knowing your important role within these communities, we hoped our Parish Councils could also help us in encouraging those people that need additional support, to register for Priority Services.
You don’t even have to be the account holder to join and registration really couldn’t be easier.
You can either:
Visit our website unitedutilities.com/priorityservices and complete a simple online form, or call our friendly Priority Services team on 0345 072 6093
Also, when someone registers with us, with their consent, we could also add their details to a similar free scheme with Electricity North West (who manage the electricity network in our region). If eligible, this would provide additional support if there was ever a loss of power too – so two for the price of one!
For further information please contact Amanda Phillips, Priority Services Lead, United Utilities
M: 07703 395678 (mobex 55100) E: amanda.phillips@uuplc.co.uk
Do you know someone that lives in the North West and could benefit from signing up to our United Utilities Priority Services register?
Call our dedicated team direct on 0345 072 6093. Text Relay service number 18001.
Log on to United Utilities to find out everything from managing your account and reporting a leak to water saving tips! Got a smart phone? Try downloading our app so you can keep up-to-date on the go!
Help to resolve speeding traffic issues in Spark Bridge
September 2018
There have been recent safety concerns with speeding traffic going through the Village of Spark Bridge. Teachers from Penny Bridge School have worked with the Highways to seek approval to install some beautiful pictures designed by the pupils, highlighting the dangers.
Approval was granted and ENMO Parish council was contacted to request financial support with the project, members agreed at their meeting in July 2018, and the posters are now installed! We all hope that this project will have a significant impact on drivers passing through the village and that they will drive at a slower pace. See the signs in gallery below.
Broughton Beck telephone box gets a new lease of life
June 2018
Despite being in a prominent position at the road junction on the edge of Broughton Beck, the condition of the ex-BT red kiosk had deteriorated since the public telephone was removed some years ago. Flaking paintwork plus scratched and broken glass panels meant it had become an eyesore.
However, with a lot of hard work from local residents living near the kiosk and financial help from Egton with Newland, Mansriggs and Osmotherley parish council, the box has been returned to its former glory.
In addition, a Broughton Beck community group was formed with the aim of purchasing a defibrillator and emergency telephone to go into the kiosk. With the help of the Community Heartbeat Trust, the leading community defibrillator organisation plus local fund raising by the community group and more financial assistance from the parish council, a defibrillator and telephone were acquired and installed last year.
Rosside Telephone Box
We have been making slow progress with the Rosside Telephone Box. The Parish Council are endeavouring to turn the light in the phone box back on for the small community at Rosside. This is proving to be a challenge! The latest progress is that the Council have price for a solar panel which seems to be affordable. As the council pursue this a question has been raised over what the telephone box could be used for as there is now a large some of money being invested into it.
If you have any thoughts on the use of the phone box please contact Councillor Hobson via email on sheila.hobson13@gmail.com.
Parish Council Grants
The Parish Council has funding available to groups within the Parish. If you wish to apply for your group then please email the Clerk for further information. We also have some funding available for new Parish Projects. If you have any ideas for future projects within the parish please come along to a parish council meeting or contact the Clerk.
