Work of Council’s Environmental Health Team Rectifies Public Health Issue

Rossendale Borough Council’s Environmental Health Team has successfully worked with residents and neighbours of a property that was creating a serious public health issue.

The Council’s Environmental Health Team received reports of a leaking soil stack (see photo 1) at first floor level in a property. When an Environmental Health Officer visited there was toilet waste and tissue paper down the back wall of the house. The rear yard was also full of waste items (see photo 2) which were also covered in faecal material.

An Environmental Health Officer made contact with the owner of the rented property who said she wasn’t aware of the situation and that she would get it sorted. This was confirmed in a notice served on the owner to make sure it would get done.

Just 7 days later a re-visit was carried out by the Officer to check the work and that it had been done to a satisfactory standard, which it was (see photo 3).

Environmental Officer Lorna Robinson said;

“This was a serious public health issue. It is really pleasing to see the positive results our work with the residents resulted in. The problem was impacting on people’s daily life and now the neighbour can let her children play out in the yard without the flies, smell and public health nuisance from next door.”

For more information on our Environmental Health Team please visit;  http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/info/200040/environmental_health/206/the_environmental_health_service