Reporting Local issues

Landowner Responsibilities

Landowners, particularly those who have land adjoining or surrounding rights of way, roads or rivers have certain responsibilities. In some cases, Dorset Council have the right to carry out maintenance work on private land and recharge the landowner. It is therefore important to be aware of responsibilities and carry out regular maintenance as required to avoid unnecessary costs. Below are some sources of guidance available to landowners.

Tree and Hedge Maintenance

Landowners must keep their trees and hedges cut back away from roads. Dorset Council have specific guidance for this on their website. https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/countryside-coast-parks/countryside-management/tree-management/tree-management-in-dorset

The majority of the parish is in a conservation area and so permission is required for most tree work. See the Dorset Council website for further details. https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/countryside-coast-parks/countryside-management/tree-management/trees-in-conservation-areas

Rights of Way

Landowners have responsibilities to keep rights of way clear and both Dorset Council and the Parish Council have the power to take action when necessary. The guide below has useful information for landowners. Local residents are encouraged to use the online reporting tool (see link in the table below) to report problems on rights of way.

Watercourses

The Environment Agency have advice available regarding responsibilities and rules to follow for watercourses on or near your property, and permissions you need to do work around them. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-a-watercourse

How to Report a Problem

There are a range of issues that you may want to report. The table below is not extensive but is intended to assist you in reporting to the proper authority. If you have an issue that is not included below and are unsure who to report to, try using an internet search engine to find the answer or use the contact page and we will try to help.

Please always call 999 to report emergencies such as when a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.

Please be aware that the Parish Council has limited powers and is not usually able to make decisions outside of monthly meetings. When the Parish Council can act, sometimes action can take several months due to the need to seek quotes and consider these at a later meeting. Dorset Council are able to respond more quickly, and reporting the issues below directly to the proper authority is the fastest way to get results. You can often get email updates as the report is dealt with. If you are unable to use online reporting tools then there may be contact details on the webpages as well. If you are unable to report the problem yourself you can contact the Parish Council Clerk for help by emailing clerk@briantspuddle.info.

Issue to report	Who it should be reported to	link to the website and other contact information
Police matters, vandalism and crimes that are not urgent. Although you may not see any immediate result, it is important to always report criminal activity to the police as it helps them to allocate resources in the future and notice patterns which could help them to prevent further crimes.	Dorset Police	https://www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online
Problems on roads, pavements and roadside verges, including but not limited to; trees or dead animals on the road/verge, pot holes, flooding, debris and litter.	Dorset Council	https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/roads-highways-maintenance/report-a-problem-on-the-road-or-pavement.aspx
Emergency problems on roads, pavements, roadside verges and rights of way. An emergency on the highway is defined as something that will cause, or has already caused, damage to a person or property.	Dorset Council	Please call 01305 221020 (only in an emergency).
Fly tipping – please also see www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/scrap which advises people how to follow the rules about disposal of waste. As well as checking out the credentials of people who offer to get rid if bulk waste, it advises that if you see a fly tip make a note of where it is, take a photo if you can, but don’t touch it or confront fly tippers in the act.	Dorset Council	www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/flytipping or call on 01305 221040
Rights of Way issues such as blocked paths, overgrowth, damaged gates etc.	Dorset Council	https://mapping.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/rightsofway/reportproblem
A problem with your household bins including requesting replacement bins or assistance in moving your bins.	Dorset Council	https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-litter/report-a-bin-problem/report-a-bin-problem.aspx
Planning enforcement (unauthorised development).	Dorset Council	https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/planning-buildings-land/planning/planning-enforcement.aspx
Power cut.	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks	Please call 105 to be put through.
Gas leak or emergency.	National Gas Emergency Service	Please call 0800 111 999
Street lighting on the A31 or A35 west of Bere Regis trunk roads.	Highways England	Email: info@highwaysengland.co.uk Tel: 0300 123 5000
Street lighting on other public roads.	SSE	http://www.lightsonindorset.co.uk/Public/Default.aspx Telephone: 0800 068 4145
Damage to telephone poles or cables.	Openreach	0800 023 2023 (option 1)