Drain Clearance Axe To Blame For Environmental Health Build Up

A report that reveals the axing of the Borough's free drain clearing service has forced a massive build up in environmental health cases has had a frosty reception from Liberal Democrats.

The report, discussed at last nights Environment Policy Review and Development Committee, shows that whilst calls on the council to implement its drain clearing service have fallen since charges were introduced, the number of public health notices has risen more than ten fold.

Speaking after the meeting Lib Dem Councillor Shirley McKay said:

"Back in January I raised concerns about the Mayors decision to axe this service. Now it's backfired on him. Axing this service has meant that the councils environmental health department has had to pick up the pieces. The number of public health notices served by the council has risen more than ten fold. The situation is made worse because most of the drains that are affected are shared drains. This becomes a bureaucratic nightmare. You need someone to coordinate a response and seek payment from all residents involved. I know through experience that this is very difficult to achieve."

"Cutting this service has just passed the buck, its hit local residents with a stealth tax that they shouldn't have to pay and caused more problems than those it hoped to save. This service along with the free collection of Bulky waste should never have been axed in the first place. I wouldn't start from here and we warned you not to."

The Committee has now passed a recommendation to the Mayors Cabinet repeating the call made last January for the charges to be dropped and the return of the free half hour drain clearance service.