Vince Cable

Twickenham leads the list of London districts for residents who have been given yellow cards: letters warning them of prosecution or large fines - up to £1000 - if they continue to use hosepipes in the gardens. 53 Twickenham residents have been warned out of 476 in London (as against Bromley with 45) mostly based on people "shopping" their neighbours. The government however is warning the water companies, particularly Thames Water, to 'up their game' in cutting leakages which account for 25% or more of supplies.

Vincent Cable, MP, said that: "the serious drought in parts of the south east - which has led to standpipe warnings - could well get worse. Most residents who are being told to economise on their gardens will wonder why so much water is being wasted in the distribution system; there are genuine problems in maintaining a century old network , which involves digging up roads frequently, but Thames Water should be doing more. Ultimately it comes down to a sense of personal responsibility, as it does with energy, with individuals not wasting water. We shall also see growing pressure for metering water, though there are some serious practical problems with blocks of flats".