Business

Environmental Protection Common Questions

What should I do if I have a noisy neighbour?

If you and/or your neighbour are Council tenants contact your local Housing Office.
If your neighbour is playing loud music, call Central Scotland Police who have powers to deal with this and may seize the equipment if the problem persists.
The Out of Hours Noise Team operates between 8pm and 3am Thursday to Saturday. Call 0845 277 7000.
In other cases call Environmental Health during office hours for further information and advice.

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety

Housing

What should I do if there is loud noise from a nearby industrial process or construction site?

Contact Environmental Health for further advice. In some construction sites Planning Enforcement Officers may also be involved. Has the complainant made direct contact with the plant manager or the site agent?

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety

Planning Development Control

What should I do if there is dust or smell from a nearby industrial process or other activity?

If the source of the problem is Nexfor or Superglass contact the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) at 01786 452595 (during normal office hours) or 0800 807060 at other times.

For other sources contact Environmental Health for further advice. The complainant should note times when the smell or dust became obvious to help with the investigation.

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety

My landlord will not carry out repairs to my flat. Can you help?

Depending on the nature of the repairs required, Environmental Health may be able to require your landlord to carry out the repairs. Contact Environmental Health for further information or advice.

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety.

There is a choked drain on the footpath/back garden and sewage is flooding out. Who can help?

Scottish Water will clear choked drains where the problem is from a common sewer. If the chokage is in a private drain then the owner is responsible for having it cleared. Contact Scottish Water for further information or advice (0845 600 8855). If the enquiry is from the owner then they should be able to find the names of suitable plumbers from Yellow Pages. If they are not the owner, and the owner is refusing to help, contact Environmental Health for further information or advice. We can require the owner to carry out the necessary work.

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety.

There is a strange smell in my house. What is it?

Contact Environmental Health who will be able to come to your house and offer advice. Have you checked for dead rats/mice or choked drains under the floor?

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety

My septic tank needs to be emptied. Who will do it for me?

This is not a service which Stirling Council provides. Scottish Water offer a fixed price desludging service for domestic septic tanks provided that certain criteria are met. For information telephone 0845 600 8855. The enquirer can also get a list of private contractors from Yellow Pages.

I want to let out my flat to students. Do I need to tell the Council?

Yes. You may need to register the flat with the Council or, in certain circumstances, you may need to have a licence to operate a House in Multiple Occupation. Contact the Private Rented Sector Team (01786 442803) for further information and advice.

Responsible Service:Housing Services

The students who live upstairs will not put their rubbish out properly for collection. What can I do?

Have you spoken to the students to see if they know the correct day for refuse collections? Contact Waste Services, who will be able to advise the students of their responsibilities. Also, in some circumstances an Environmental Health Officer may be able to contact the landlord to ensure that he/she is meeting the terms of a Licence for Houses in Multiple Occupation. Contact the Private Rented Sector Team (01786 442803) for further information.

Responsible Service:Waste Services

Housing Services

My neighbour has been clearing his garden and is burning the rubbish. What can I do?

Have you spoken to your neighbour to point out that the smoke is causing you a problem? If not, it is advisable to do so in the first instance. If this has no effect, contact Environmental Health for further information and advice.

Responsible Service:Community Health and Safety.

The tap water is dirty/cloudy this morning. Can you tell me what’s wrong?

If your supply is off the mains public supply, contact Scottish Water on 0845 600 8855 for further information. They normally have a recorded message when works are being carried out or they know about a particular problem. If not, a customer advisor will be able to note the complaint.

If your supply is a private supply (i.e. it is from a private spring or burn) you will need to contact the person who is responsible for the supply e.g. the landlord or land owner. He/she has a legal responsibility to maintain the water supply in a potable condition. Contact Environmental Health for further information or advice.

Responsible Service:Scottish Water

Community Health and Safety.

I am concerned about the possibility of lead in the water supply. How can I get it checked?

Contact Environmental Health or Scottish Water (0845 600 8855) who can arrange for a sample to be taken and analysed for the presence of lead. If in doubt there are simple precautions which you can take to substantially reduce the risk to your health.

Always take water for drinking or cooking directly from a mains-fed cold tap – this is normally the tap at the kitchen sink. Never take water for drinking and cooking from any hot tap. Warm water increases lead concentrations and the water may have been stored in a domestic cistern lined with lead. Always run the mains tap first thing every morning to clear any water which may have been lying in contact with lead overnight.

It is advisable to replace lead pipework and plumbing. Information on the grants available can be obtained from the Grants Section, Environment Services, Viewforth - telephone 0845 277 7000 (Extension 2892/2915).

Responsible Service:Scottish Water

Community Health and Safety

Grants Section

There is an abandoned car lying in the street outside my house. Who will remove it?

Depending on the circumstances of the car being abandoned this may be dealt with by Central Scotland Police or Streetscape. Have you contacted the local police station to report the car? Take details of the address, make of car, colour and registration number if available and contact Streetscape on 0845 277 7000 for further information or advice.

Responsible Service:Streetscape

What if I can’t afford to pay for a funeral?

The Benefits Agency will give advice on help from the Social Fund.