0:00:02 > 0:00:08From waste and recycling to pest control and trading standards,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11the taxes that we pay to our local councils
0:00:11 > 0:00:15are used to provide many of our most essential services.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I like people who are keen to recycle.
0:00:17 > 0:00:21In this series we follow the frontline staff
0:00:21 > 0:00:25working behind the walls of Tameside Town Hall in Greater Manchester.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Like council officers across the country,
0:00:28 > 0:00:33these local heroes are waging war on those blighting our communities.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Oi, oi, oi! Excuse me, love. You can't do that!
0:00:36 > 0:00:39They're protecting us from hidden dangers...
0:00:39 > 0:00:42There's rodents under your kitchen, you won't be opening tonight. It's simple.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46..making sure our cash is spent on those who need it most...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49I'm at a loose end. I do not know where to turn.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53..and responding to their residents when they Call The Council.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Coming up:
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Council officers intervene when tensions run high
0:01:04 > 0:01:07between neighbours at war over a water supply.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09There's no water coming to the taps in the utility,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12there's no water in the cistern downstairs.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14We've got bottled water to flush the toilets.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17The allegations are that that is being turned on and off
0:01:17 > 0:01:19to stop supply.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23It's not in my interest to cut my own business off with the water supply.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27A whole street full of residents call the council
0:01:27 > 0:01:29when their houses are overrun by mice.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I'll start with you and I'll come and see you
0:01:32 > 0:01:34and then I'll knock on...
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And an officer responds to another resident desperate for help
0:01:37 > 0:01:39to solve a serious damp issue.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I have no idea what's the matter with it
0:01:42 > 0:01:44but I just want it sorted out.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00The UK's 63 million residents depend on each and every one
0:02:00 > 0:02:05of their 433 local authorities to keep their communities clean,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08safe and to provide many essential services.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Good afternoon. Environmental services.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14And whether it's road maintenance, waste management or pest control,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18as taxpayers, we expect value for money.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22In Tameside, a borough of Greater Manchester,
0:02:22 > 0:02:25there are over 2,000 council employees waiting to respond
0:02:25 > 0:02:28whenever a resident calls the council.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31The fact that you can keep people safe
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and that you make a difference to people
0:02:34 > 0:02:37who ask for help from the local authority
0:02:37 > 0:02:39is a great thing to be able to achieve
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and it does give you job satisfaction.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Be it noise nuisance, nasty smells,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49high hedges or antisocial behaviour, complaints about our neighbours
0:02:49 > 0:02:52rank highly amongst the 50 million calls
0:02:52 > 0:02:55made to our councils in one year alone.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Official government advice is that neighbours should try
0:02:58 > 0:03:01to resolve any arguments by talking to each other
0:03:01 > 0:03:03or using a mediation service
0:03:03 > 0:03:07but communication at Thorncliffe Hall Farm has broken down.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Resident Gill Cooper believes her water supply is being
0:03:11 > 0:03:15restricted by a neighbour and has called the council.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We have no water coming into the house through
0:03:20 > 0:03:22what would be our mains supply.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The cold water, as you can see, is dry, completely dry.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30We have got some hot water that comes from the tanks.
0:03:30 > 0:03:36In terms of cooking, I have to use bottled water.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Gill and the four other properties in this hamlet aren't connected
0:03:42 > 0:03:46to the mains water supply that 99% of us draw our water from.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50Instead they share a private supply from a nearby spring.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55The pipes from the spring are designed to channel water
0:03:55 > 0:03:59to all four properties but Gill's supply is intermittent
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and she believes her neighbour, who runs a livery business,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05is controlling the water via a stop tap in her garden.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09An allegation the neighbour, Gaynor McCormack, strenuously denies.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11It is not a fair allegation
0:04:11 > 0:04:17because the pressure problem is somewhere back across the meadows.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Strictly speaking, the council has no legal obligation to get involved
0:04:22 > 0:04:24if a water supply is insufficient
0:04:24 > 0:04:27but because Gill has made some serious allegations
0:04:27 > 0:04:30about her supply being interrupted
0:04:30 > 0:04:33and in an effort to resolve their resident's distress,
0:04:33 > 0:04:36environmental services officer Kevin Greenwood is stepping in.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41In the first instance we, as an authority,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45always try to get the people who are responsible themselves
0:04:45 > 0:04:48to carry out the work and take ownership of the problem.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51That would always be our first stance.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54In this particular case, because of communication difficulties
0:04:54 > 0:04:58between the residents, that has not been possible.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02It's not just Gill who is claiming to have a restricted water supply.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Mike Savage, who owns the end property,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08is also making allegations against Gaynor McCormack.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11We can't even spend or pass the time of day with each other any more.
0:05:11 > 0:05:17Because it's got to that point where we know what's been going on.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Things are blatantly rubbed in your face,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23like the waste of water or the butts that's evident
0:05:23 > 0:05:27outside the property now, that she can fill up five big containers
0:05:27 > 0:05:29of water constantly, all day long
0:05:29 > 0:05:34yet nobody else has got even a dribble coming through the tap.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37That water supply supplies my own business
0:05:37 > 0:05:40where I have to water 23 horses twice a day.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43Why on earth would I put myself through that kind of manual labour,
0:05:43 > 0:05:48having to pail water through my property?
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Hi. Good evening.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Sorry we're a little bit late. The traffic was horrendous.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Kevin needs to investigate the claims
0:05:55 > 0:05:57with Gill and her partner Dave.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59There's no water coming to the taps in the utility,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02there's no water in the cistern downstairs.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04We've got bottled water to flush the toilets.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- That has been like that for the last eight or nine weeks.- At that.
0:06:07 > 0:06:13- Like that.- So does it stop at all, or is it slow like that?- It stops.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- It stops.- The majority of the time we don't have a supply.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Gill and Dave believe the problem lies with a valve
0:06:19 > 0:06:22situated in Gaynor's back yard.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26They say it's being turned off, restricting their supply
0:06:26 > 0:06:28while Gaynor's water runs freely.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- That is under the manhole cover next door.- In the garden.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- And the allegation is that this...- That's right.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43..fitting there is turned with a screwdriver to stop flow.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48- Have you ever seen anybody turning that?- We haven't.
0:06:48 > 0:06:52'I think dealing with these awkward situations'
0:06:52 > 0:06:56where there are arguments and potential problems like this,
0:06:56 > 0:07:03a great deal of experience over the years has helped to remain calm
0:07:03 > 0:07:08and although sympathetic, dealing with it in a professional manner.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11We may feel inside a little bit more than we are allowed to show
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but we've got to deal with it professionally.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Once it's like that, that's it.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21It's time to get in the car, take the washing to Gill's mum's,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24get a shower at Gill's mum's and that's how we've got to live.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28The only other thing I can do tonight is to knock on the door
0:07:28 > 0:07:32next door and ask them if they've got water at the taps.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Kevin decides to visit Mrs McCormick
0:07:36 > 0:07:40and have a look at her water supply but unfortunately, she isn't in.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44- That's really as much as we can do this evening.- Thank you.
0:07:44 > 0:07:49- OK.- Yeah.- Good night, now. - For now, the dispute's unresolved.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53It's down to the council to investigate the claims further
0:07:53 > 0:07:56and find out what's causing the problems with the water.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01There's a light at the end of the tunnel now, hopefully.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05For me, I would say I'm optimistic but I'm not going to hold my breath.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Still to come, council officer Khush makes a breakthrough.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Would you replace that? Would you have that taken out?
0:08:13 > 0:08:15I don't mind whether that's there or not.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18But will it mean a steady stream of water returns
0:08:18 > 0:08:20to Gill and Dave's homes?
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I can't tell yet how good it will feel to just get water upstairs.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Britain's council officers are dedicated to helping us
0:08:33 > 0:08:36fight all manner of problems, whatever their shape or size.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Today residents of five adjoining houses have called the council
0:08:43 > 0:08:46to ask for pest control officer Brian Whelan's help.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51They're all at the mercy of mice who've infested their homes.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54I'm just filling my bag up with some poisons,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58get my torch and then I'm going to go over and knock on this door
0:08:58 > 0:09:03of the lady who's got a mouse problem so we'll see what she has to say.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10The interlinking walls and shared roof spaces
0:09:10 > 0:09:14of these terrace houses offer mice easy access to rich food supplies
0:09:14 > 0:09:16and a perfect habitat to breed in.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18They've obviously got their run of the place
0:09:18 > 0:09:20cos it's all five houses that have got the problem.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Hopefully one of these will be the hot spot where it mainly is
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and they're just travelling through for a food source
0:09:26 > 0:09:29but we'll just wait and see and see how we go on the houses.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Mice can produce litters of six to eight young
0:09:33 > 0:09:36and with a gestation period of just three weeks,
0:09:36 > 0:09:41in ideal conditions, females can give birth every 25 days.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44As well as spreading disease,
0:09:44 > 0:09:48mice can also chew through electrical cables and cause fires.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Their presence can also induce phobias and stress-related illness.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57So Brian's job is to eradicate the rodents and educate the residents
0:09:57 > 0:09:59on how to pest proof their homes.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02I'll start with you and then I'll come and see you
0:10:02 > 0:10:06- and I'll knock on... Who's been organising this?- Lorraine.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- Next door.- Right.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- The instigator, yeah. - The instigator! Not a problem.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Where have you seen them or where is the activity?
0:10:14 > 0:10:18- The main part was loads of droppings and the mice was in here.- Right.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22So we put some traps in, caught three,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26put them on the back of the fields and I pull that back in,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29- screwed it down and sealed that, yeah.- Yeah.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31But we have seen them scurrying about the floor.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Following the pipework out of here again.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37It doesn't take long for Brian to find evidence
0:10:37 > 0:10:40- of recent rodent activity. - See that coming over the top there?
0:10:40 > 0:10:42That's what you call smear marks and that's what mice do
0:10:42 > 0:10:45if they are constantly using the hole and going through it.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50So that's what you see. Not a problem. I'll put some bait down.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Obviously it's poison.- Yeah. - They'll eat it and they'll die.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Sometimes, obviously, you look for the markings, the smear markings.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58The smear markings are what's...
0:10:58 > 0:11:00If you remember years ago your mum and dad used to have
0:11:00 > 0:11:03the old Dralon suites and the arms used to be black.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06That's off the oil off the skin where they were jumping up and everything
0:11:06 > 0:11:08so it's similar with mice and rats.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11They have, like, an oily skin so when they're going through a hole,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14they leave markings on the side.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Not a lot of droppings under here, is there?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Brian has to act fast and lay poison at every access hole.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- Hiya.- Hiya.- Pest control.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- Come to check for your mice problem. - Yeah.- Brilliant.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29In the next house his hunt for evidence continues.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- The only place I found droppings was behind the washing machine. - Behind there.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36And the droppings you found were like little hundreds and thousands?
0:11:36 > 0:11:39- Little pencil leads.- Like little hundreds and thousands. That's fine.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- But not the same colours as hundreds and thousands.- No. Not as tasty.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46I had a fellow once, I said to him, he goes, he says, "It's mice."
0:11:46 > 0:11:49I said, "Why? Have you seen any droppings, mate? He goes, "No."
0:11:49 > 0:11:53You won't see droppings if it's a rat
0:11:53 > 0:11:55because a rat tends to have an area where it does its business in.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58A mouse will have droppings all over the place
0:11:58 > 0:12:01as they are running and they're small.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03And I said to this guy, I says,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06"So you've not seen any hundreds and thousands? Little droppings?"
0:12:06 > 0:12:08And he turned around and went,
0:12:08 > 0:12:11"No. I've not seen any coloured droppings."
0:12:11 > 0:12:13I went, "You what?"
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And he thought that the mouse poo was going to be the same colour
0:12:16 > 0:12:19as hundreds and thousands cos I was trying to describe
0:12:19 > 0:12:21the size of the droppings and he said,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24"No, I've not seen any multicoloured poo."
0:12:24 > 0:12:28And I'm like...what am I dealing with? You know what I mean?
0:12:28 > 0:12:32But as it happens, on that day he had rats so I got my own back, didn't I?
0:12:34 > 0:12:36After almost two decades in the business,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Brian has learned what rodents love and how to keep them at bay.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41What have you put on the traps?
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Just left the bait on that they came with.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47Put peanut butter on them, a bit of peanut butter or a bit of chocolate.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49That will be a lot better.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Watch your magazine in here and books because obviously,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55if they're in they'll use all this for nesting material.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57What I suggest is if you get some plastic containers with lids on
0:12:57 > 0:13:00and stack them in there and then stack it in that.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I know they can chew through the plastic
0:13:02 > 0:13:06but at least you'll know by then cos you'll see the bits.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11I always say, me, personally, I'd say putting bait down and stuff like that
0:13:11 > 0:13:15is probably 10% of the job, if you have to.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18If you don't have to there's a lot of proofing you can do,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22sealing up holes and things like that. You've won the exercise there.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26'Plus you've made a customer happy.' Thanks very much.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Brian lays poison in two more houses in the block
0:13:29 > 0:13:31before moving on to the last home.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34I've killed four up to now.
0:13:34 > 0:13:39Two big ones and two small ones. How did I kill them? Mousetraps.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41- Snap traps.- Snap traps, yeah.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49I won't touch them. I scream, as everybody else does.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53It just ran across the room and, oh, I jumped out my skin.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Cos, you know, we couldn't move the Hoover out of the cupboard.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00You got my number. Give me a bell back. Take care. Thanks very much.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03To stop the mice breeding and spreading harmful diseases,
0:14:03 > 0:14:06the residents will have to pest proof their homes
0:14:06 > 0:14:09by sealing up holes and hiding potential nest making material.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Brian will be back in a few weeks to inspect their handiwork
0:14:13 > 0:14:16and see if his bait has been taken.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31Across the country local council officers like Brian are bravely
0:14:31 > 0:14:35battling pest problems on behalf of the residents they serve.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37But despite their hard work,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40people who fail to pest proof or are careless with their waste disposal
0:14:40 > 0:14:44and hygiene regimes encourage the rodent population to grow.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48This means sightings of mice and rats are more common
0:14:48 > 0:14:50than most of us would like.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53For the last six months, we seem to have had the odd rat.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55It doesn't bother me.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I mean, you woke up in the Army and they're as big as cats
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and sleeping at the side of you so it doesn't really worry me
0:15:02 > 0:15:04but it worries a lot of people.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Yesterday morning I found a rat on my patio.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12And when I let the cat out, it went straight to where I'd
0:15:12 > 0:15:16picked it up from so I think the cat had something to do with it.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19Round about 40 years ago,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23that's when I saw a rat over the road and funnily enough,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25it was the bloody dog that caught it.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I haven't come across anything of that nature and if I do,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32I will just run!
0:15:34 > 0:15:38But it's not just rats and mice living too close for comfort
0:15:38 > 0:15:40that upsets us Brits.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Estate agent estimates suggest that just under 50 householders
0:15:44 > 0:15:47a day are selling up to get away from their neighbours.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51Mediating neighbourhood disputes is far from easy,
0:15:51 > 0:15:54but without the work of local council officers like Syed Huda,
0:15:54 > 0:15:57these figures would be a lot higher.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59I love properties,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02I love structures and how the properties are built
0:16:02 > 0:16:05and I also like to help people
0:16:05 > 0:16:10so combine the two, I find it quite interesting for me and, you know,
0:16:10 > 0:16:15otherwise I wouldn't be doing it for that many years, to be honest.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Syed's been tackling issues with landlords,
0:16:17 > 0:16:21tenants and their neighbours for 18 years.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Today he is helping resident Fay Parker.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27Fay's tried and failed to get the owner of her next door
0:16:27 > 0:16:30neighbour's house to replace his rotten gutters.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34She believes the damage is causing damp in her bedroom
0:16:34 > 0:16:37and wants it fixed. So she's called the council.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40I have no idea what's the matter with it
0:16:40 > 0:16:42but I just want it sorted out.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Council officer Syed arrives to inspect the damp
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and see if he can help Fay.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- Hi.- Hi, Mrs Parker. Syed Huda from Tameside Council.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57It's Fay's front bedroom that seems to be suffering most.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59So, we've just decorated this room.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04The ceiling, I've painted it and painted it and painted it
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- and it still shows through.- Right.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10- You can see the mark, can't you? - Yeah.- You can see the mark.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16Right. I need to solve the issue with the gutter. That's why...
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Yeah. - ..if that's the main problem for you.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24To measure the moisture Syed uses a damp meter.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26A red light indicates an issue.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34That's very damp, isn't it?
0:17:34 > 0:17:36MACHINE BEEPS
0:17:39 > 0:17:41I've got a house like a leaky colander.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48Untreated damp can cause rot in your home and encourage dust mites.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51And, if the mould it produces is left untreated,
0:17:51 > 0:17:56it can increase the risk of respiratory illnesses like mycosis.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00With damp detected, Syed must now find the source.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Look up there.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07- You can see the join between our gutter and his gutter.- Yes.
0:18:07 > 0:18:12So if his gutter gets full and blocked up with leaves and rubbish
0:18:12 > 0:18:18and things, which it does, then the water backs up and it also...
0:18:20 > 0:18:24..blocks us off as well and we are getting absolutely fed up with it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27- He just doesn't take care of the outside of the house.- I understand.
0:18:27 > 0:18:32I have to be absolutely 100% certain
0:18:32 > 0:18:36- that you've got damp in your property because of the faulty gutter.- Right.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Can you see the way it's dripping?
0:18:39 > 0:18:42It's not hitting the wall, it's actually landing away from the wall.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44I understand that.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49So, for us to send any enforcement notice or request him to do anything,
0:18:49 > 0:18:56- I have to say it's causing either party a damp or mould issue.- Yeah.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Whilst Syed can't see irrefutable evidence
0:18:59 > 0:19:04that the poor state of the neighbour's guttering is causing damp in Fay's house,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06he has noted parts of it are broken,
0:19:06 > 0:19:08which is likely to cause problems elsewhere.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13It is leaking onto next door's property.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16This means he can help Fay.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21You could see quite clearly that both joints are leaking quite badly
0:19:21 > 0:19:25and your neighbour's side, on the other side of the property,
0:19:25 > 0:19:30is leaking onto his path and rainwater bouncing off onto his wall
0:19:30 > 0:19:34so eventually he will get damp in the ground floor level
0:19:34 > 0:19:36so what I'll do now,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39I will contact the owner of the property
0:19:39 > 0:19:43and I will ask him to replace the gutter.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47That would be brilliant. That would be absolutely brilliant.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49- OK, are you happy with that? - Yes, brilliant.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52- Thank you very much. I'll keep in touch.- Thank you very much indeed.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- All right. Thanks very much. Thank you.- Bye.- Bye-bye.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Private landlords have a responsibility
0:19:59 > 0:20:02to clear and maintain their gutters.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Failure to do could result in the council
0:20:04 > 0:20:06serving a notice to demand repairs.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Syed heads back to the Council's HQ to call
0:20:09 > 0:20:13the owner of Fay's neighbouring property.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17When I was there this morning it was raining and you could see
0:20:17 > 0:20:22quite clearly that it's not just dripping, it's quite badly...
0:20:22 > 0:20:24On both ends, not just one end.
0:20:24 > 0:20:30Basically, I'm just asking you to get the gutter replaced, to be honest.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34He gives the owner 28 days to repair the leaking gutter.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37If people were to communicate with each other better,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40then it is probably not entirely true that they don't have
0:20:40 > 0:20:44to get in touch with the council, it makes life easier for everybody
0:20:44 > 0:20:47but ultimately, we are the enforcing authority
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and somebody has to enforce the act of Parliament.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53All right. Thanks a lot. Thanks for your time. Bye-bye, now. Bye-bye.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Bye-bye.
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Syed's not alone in his quest to resolve
0:21:06 > 0:21:09a dispute between neighbours.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12His local council colleagues up and down the country
0:21:12 > 0:21:15face what sometimes seems like a never-ending battle
0:21:15 > 0:21:17to find peace between neighbours at war.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Environmental services. Phil Rogers speaking.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22'When neighbours get to have a dislike for one another,'
0:21:22 > 0:21:25it is really difficult to try and resolve the situation
0:21:25 > 0:21:27because they can't see past it,
0:21:27 > 0:21:32'even if you offer them a reasonable solution for both parties to move forward,'
0:21:32 > 0:21:36that's invariably envisaged by one as an accession
0:21:36 > 0:21:39and they don't want to give way, they don't want to be seen to be
0:21:39 > 0:21:41giving way and once you get into that kind of entrenched position,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44it's really, really difficult to get out of.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49People seem to be quite distant from each other.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52You know, neighbours might not speak to each other for weeks
0:21:52 > 0:21:56on end until something goes wrong and unfortunately,
0:21:56 > 0:22:01when something does go wrong, they sort of just have a big fallout.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05We all tend to mind our own business a little bit more
0:22:05 > 0:22:08and go inside and just shut the door on it.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11I don't think the generations lived together as much
0:22:11 > 0:22:13as they perhaps used to but I think people now,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15by the time they've got their mobiles and their computers
0:22:15 > 0:22:19and their telly, they don't need to go outside and they don't.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22When I bought the house that I've lived in for 30 years,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25before I bought the house I did knock on the door and speak to the
0:22:25 > 0:22:29neighbours before I even put an offer in for the property.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32So I was making my own assessment of what my neighbours,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34certainly for the foreseeable future, might be like.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Because that, in a sense, could put me off buying that property.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40Fortunately it didn't and I bought it.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42If neighbours spoke to each other then I'm sure
0:22:42 > 0:22:46a lot of the complaints that come to my service area wouldn't come.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48We find ourselves actually getting in there
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and almost mediating between neighbours
0:22:51 > 0:22:53to actually get that resolution
0:22:53 > 0:22:56and more times than often that we will do that
0:22:56 > 0:23:00without necessarily taking any enforcement action at all
0:23:00 > 0:23:02but just actually getting people to talk
0:23:02 > 0:23:05to resolve the issues that they have.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15Six miles from the council HQ, the environmental services team
0:23:15 > 0:23:19is trying to help resolve a dispute between Gill Cooper and her neighbour.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Gill's called the council to complain about her intermittent water supply.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27There is water to next-door's property
0:23:27 > 0:23:30and the majority of the time we don't have a supply.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Rather than a regular mains supply,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37the neighbours should be sharing a water supply from a nearby spring.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Gill claims that her feed from the spring is being
0:23:40 > 0:23:43shut off by her next-door neighbour Gaynor,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47who strenuously denies that the problem is anything to do with her.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It's not a fair allegation.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51That water supply supplies my own business where
0:23:51 > 0:23:55I have to water 23 horses twice a day.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Why on earth would I put myself through that kind of manual labour,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01having to pail water through my property?
0:24:02 > 0:24:06With the neighbours at loggerheads, Council Officer Khush Ahmed
0:24:06 > 0:24:09and his colleague Charlotte are stepping in to mediate.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15'When you are dealing with issues like this'
0:24:15 > 0:24:18and you've got a number of people that basically have got to
0:24:18 > 0:24:21a stage where they physically can't talk to each other,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23you end up as intermediary.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Up until now, Gaynor McCormack has denied anyone access
0:24:30 > 0:24:33to inspect the pipework in her back yard
0:24:33 > 0:24:36and to help resolve the dispute, 24 hours ago,
0:24:36 > 0:24:42Kush served Gaynor with a notice of intended entry and has asked a plumber to assess the problem.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46We're going to be looking at the pipework at the rear
0:24:46 > 0:24:49of the property where you have got a situation.
0:24:49 > 0:24:54There's a stop tap that can restrict a supply
0:24:54 > 0:24:56to a number of cottages at the end
0:24:56 > 0:25:00so what we're going to be doing is a test on the pipework
0:25:00 > 0:25:05to see when the valve's on and off to see how it restricts the supply.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Just need to go around here.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Gill Cooper claims that Gaynor is stopping the flow of water
0:25:10 > 0:25:14to her house by turning a stop valve to off.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18This is the subject of what everybody's
0:25:18 > 0:25:20jumping up and down about.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23They think that is in a position or stuck in a position
0:25:23 > 0:25:26that is hindering the supply that way.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Restricts supply to the cottage.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Which includes my supply of my business out there.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37- If that was turned, Bill, if that was turned...- If that was shut off.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41- That would isolate the water.- Cut-off that way, absolutely. That's right.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45And that's not even functional. You can't, I couldn't turn that.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49- It shouldn't be on there anyway.- No. - It's the wrong sort of fitting.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53- That...- Is insufficient.- Well, it actually restricts the flow.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57If you take that out, the inside of that would be the size of my nail.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01The allegations are that that is being turned on
0:26:01 > 0:26:06and off to restrict or stop supply to the cottages further on.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08That's the allegation.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11It's not in my interest to cut my own business off
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- with the water supply.- Would you... Would you replace that?
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Would you have that taken out?
0:26:17 > 0:26:19And just a pipe, you know, just a supply going...
0:26:19 > 0:26:22I don't mind whether that's there or not.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27There's no evidence that Gaynor has done anything wrong
0:26:27 > 0:26:30but she agrees to have the valve replaced with one
0:26:30 > 0:26:34that has a larger capacity and that can't be switched on or off.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38With this, the plumber makes sure the current valve is fully open
0:26:38 > 0:26:42so Khush can test the supply in Gill's house.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I'll go next door.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46In Gill's absence, neighbour Mike Savage is keen to hear
0:26:46 > 0:26:49the plumber's professional opinion.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53That ball valve that you have turned on or off this morning,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56is that fit for purpose?
0:26:57 > 0:27:01- Not for underground.- Thank you. Right.- Those are isolating valves.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Those are meant for WCs and sinks and taps. For maintenance.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10That's restricting the supply to the premises.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12That's on, that's off, yeah?
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Testing the current supply will help confirm
0:27:15 > 0:27:18whether a large valve will solve the issue.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20OK, that's with the valve fully open
0:27:20 > 0:27:24but that's the sort of supply you're getting here.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- RADIO:- 'You're getting it now, are you?'
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Yeah, it's just trickling through.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33The pressure is low but the water flow is constant,
0:27:33 > 0:27:37which confirms the plumber's opinion that the current valve is too small.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40But there's no proof that the valve was being deliberately
0:27:40 > 0:27:44- turned on or off. - The fittings need to be changed.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48You know, you need a supply with the same diameter fitting
0:27:48 > 0:27:51that doesn't restrict any of the flow in any way.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Now, that, as I say,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58is a matter between the people who occupy these properties.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Ideally, I mean, the supply needs to come from the well or the spring,
0:28:02 > 0:28:07a separate supply that feeds into individual cottages.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09And that is really down to the owner, would you agree?
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Totally agree with you.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15I think the residents will need to get together,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18maybe to look at a larger pipework altogether
0:28:18 > 0:28:20to supply their own cottages.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23To ensure Gaynor changes the valve,
0:28:23 > 0:28:27Khush serves an order giving her 14 days to do the work.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30He will return in a fortnight to check it's been done
0:28:30 > 0:28:34and hopefully see an end to this dispute once and for all.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Between 2012 and 2013,
0:28:47 > 0:28:51local authorities dealt with over 700,000 incidents of fly tipping.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56The cost of clear-up to us taxpayers was over £36 million.
0:28:58 > 0:29:03Local authorities carried out over 425,000 enforcement actions
0:29:03 > 0:29:07but only 2,200 prosecutions were brought,
0:29:07 > 0:29:12so catching and convicting culprits is not easy.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17Today environmental services officer Mike Robinson has struck lucky.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Sometimes I get a statement that somebody has been caught fly tipping
0:29:25 > 0:29:30but don't usually get a photograph that supports that
0:29:30 > 0:29:33and certainly not as clear as this one here.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37The photo was sent to Mike by artist Gordon Clegg,
0:29:37 > 0:29:41who saw a man dumping the fireplace on wasteland
0:29:41 > 0:29:43in front of his studio and called the council.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46It was just an ordinary day. I was working on the commission.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49I just looked out of the window
0:29:49 > 0:29:52and saw a builder's van drive onto the ground opposite.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Well, he just parked the damn thing right in front,
0:29:55 > 0:30:00dropped the side down and began to unload it on the floor.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03I was just aghast because it was broad daylight.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05It was two o'clock in the afternoon.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07I just grabbed my camera, I just took four shots of it
0:30:07 > 0:30:11and I thought, "Right, take this to the council.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13"Let them deal with it cos they can't get away with it."
0:30:15 > 0:30:19Fly tippers can be fined up to £50,000 and in serious cases
0:30:19 > 0:30:21face a prison sentence.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25But on their own, Mike's photos aren't enough to bring a prosecution
0:30:25 > 0:30:28so he needs to meet Gordon and fellow artist Chris
0:30:28 > 0:30:30to get more evidence.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33- Hello. Gordon.- Pleased to meet you. Mike.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38- Hiya.- We have met before, haven't we? About a year ago, wasn't it?
0:30:38 > 0:30:42We were looking out the window here and then it was all happening again.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44I said to Gordon, can you take a picture of this guy?
0:30:44 > 0:30:49- It was just by chance you seen him. - We're always here, me and him.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52- Every day.- And I'm directly below.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55- Right.- We see this all the time. - Blatant, yeah.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57Presumably it was just from here.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00He came down here and we said "ey up",
0:31:00 > 0:31:04cos it was a flat backed thing full of junk and everything.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07- Then he just tipped... See where the tarmac is there?- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10- Is that the picture that you showed tipping of the white fireplace?- Yes.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13I've got four of those in a sequence.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15He couldn't have stopped in a better place!
0:31:15 > 0:31:17You had your long lens on, didn't you?
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Well, I hope the council catch him
0:31:19 > 0:31:23and he's fined just so that he won't do it again.
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Armed with a statement, Mike heads back to the council
0:31:28 > 0:31:32to try and trace the offender and put an end to Gordon's distress.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34He did it in broad daylight.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39He had no consideration for anybody in the area.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43He had no consideration for how the land looks, the mill looks
0:31:43 > 0:31:48and my business looks, you know, with all this rubbish outside.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50And it's just not on, really.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53And I hope the council do something about it.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06After residents called the council about a mouse infestation
0:32:06 > 0:32:08plaguing their houses,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12pest control officer Brian Whelan's returned to see if the householders
0:32:12 > 0:32:17- have taken his advice and pest-proofed their homes.- Hiya.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- Sorry I'm late.- All right.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- How do?- Hiya. - Just in time for dinner, am I?
0:32:24 > 0:32:26THEY LAUGH
0:32:26 > 0:32:30- How's it been?- We had one that got behind the fridge
0:32:30 > 0:32:33so my husband sorted that but apart from that we've had none at all.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37Let's have a look behind the cooker and that.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41- Nothing.- We've had no... Nothing at all.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44- Maybe I won't. Maybe I will. - None at all.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50- There's none down there. Nothing there.- There's none there.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Fantastic. Superb. Brilliant.
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Right, I will give next-door a knock and see how they are.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01It's good news for this house but have Brian's poison
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and better pest-proofing had the same effect next-door?
0:33:03 > 0:33:07- Bye, now.- Take care.- Bye-bye. See you.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14- Hello there. Pest control. Is it OK if I check?- Come in. Come in.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- Has everything been all right? - Fine.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20- Down here was some. - There is some in the cupboard.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- I put them down. - No droppings, is there?
0:33:22 > 0:33:24- No fresh droppings. - No, I haven't seen any.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27As far as I know the three houses here haven't seen any.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31- I've not heard anything from the other end.- Keep my number.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33You've got my number. Keep my number.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35Give me a bell if you need anything again.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38We'll pop round straightaway and sort it out. OK. Thanks very much.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40- Thanks very much. It's been great. - Superb.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43The council came out quickly
0:33:43 > 0:33:45so we didn't have any problem that way
0:33:45 > 0:33:50and we've had a follow-up checkup and we can contact them any time
0:33:50 > 0:33:55we need to if we have any other problems so we are very pleased.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58All right. Bye, now.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59It's great news for the residents
0:33:59 > 0:34:03and a good job done by their new-found hero, Brian.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05It's nice. I mean, that's the part about the job,
0:34:05 > 0:34:09when you do a job and get an end result and people see it
0:34:09 > 0:34:12and know it and they're dead happy about it, that's fantastic.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15I love helping people. I love people saying,
0:34:15 > 0:34:17"Brilliant, nice one. Well done."
0:34:17 > 0:34:20And it is nice, whether they're old or young, it doesn't make any odds.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30While the country's council officers are on the road
0:34:30 > 0:34:32helping their residents,
0:34:32 > 0:34:36council call centres across the UK are being kept busy by thousands
0:34:36 > 0:34:39- of others looking for help. - Good morning. Customer services.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42- How can I help? - Some call more often than others.
0:34:42 > 0:34:47We do get what we call regular callers on a lot of the time.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49They can be quite humorous and you get to know people,
0:34:49 > 0:34:51you know them by their names.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55They're always very chatty and they know you on first name terms.
0:34:55 > 0:34:56Good afternoon.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59They see their role as helping the council do a better job.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02They physically walk round the borough, ring us up and say,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05"There's a pothole on the street.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08"There's dog fouling in this area. I've noticed some bin liners..."
0:35:08 > 0:35:11And they make a sort of industry out of walking round
0:35:11 > 0:35:13but they are actually doing us a favour
0:35:13 > 0:35:15cos some people just walk past it and ignore it.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18Welcome to Tameside Council. Karen speaking. How can I help?
0:35:18 > 0:35:21That's the thing that I like about the job, really.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23You never know what's on the end of the phone.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26Somebody could be shouting because of various reasons or you get
0:35:26 > 0:35:30someone who is, "Sorry for contacting you. I do apologise."
0:35:30 > 0:35:34You know, at the end of the day we are there to help the public
0:35:34 > 0:35:37and we always say don't hesitate to contact us.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39That's what we are here for at the end of the day.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Back on the streets Syed is returning to see Fay Parker,
0:35:50 > 0:35:55who called the council about her neighbour's leaking guttering and damp in her bedroom.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58After an initial inspection,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01Syed called the landlord to insist the damaged gutter was replaced.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05Today he's back to see if the work has been carried out.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09The landlord of this property was meant to replace the guttering,
0:36:09 > 0:36:12which he has done, and I'm really pleased with that.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15Some cases the landlord will ignore the plea from the tenant
0:36:15 > 0:36:17or the neighbouring properties
0:36:17 > 0:36:20but when they get in touch with the council,
0:36:20 > 0:36:23in most cases we can resolve the problem without great difficulties.
0:36:26 > 0:36:31Syed also checks that Fay is happy about the work that's been done.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34It looks OK, doesn't it? Are you pleased with that?
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Well, not before time, I must admit but, yes, I am pleased it's done.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43- It's done.- Yes. I caught him a few days after he would have got
0:36:43 > 0:36:45the letter from you and I said to him,
0:36:45 > 0:36:48"Are you doing those gutters?"
0:36:48 > 0:36:51And he said, "I'm doing front and back." I said, "Good."
0:36:51 > 0:36:54- And I have to say thank you very much.- Not at all.
0:36:54 > 0:36:58- Thank you very much. - And I hope I never see you again!
0:36:58 > 0:37:01In a nice way, yes. All the best.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05- Yes. Thanks very much. - Take care. Thanks a lot.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07- Thank you. See you.- Bye-bye.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10It's all in a day's work for this local hero.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16I get a buzz out of what I do and I like to help people, you know.
0:37:17 > 0:37:19It's not a cliche.
0:37:19 > 0:37:26I genuinely love to help and I enjoy my, you know, area of work.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Back at council HQ, enforcement officer Mike
0:37:38 > 0:37:41has tracked down the man caught fly tipping on camera.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46He has used the man's vehicle registration to find his address and
0:37:46 > 0:37:50has invited him in for an interview with his colleague, Louise Ashton.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55We are here today to conduct an interview under caution
0:37:55 > 0:37:58with a gentleman that is suspected of being involved in a fly tipping
0:37:58 > 0:38:01incident in the Mossley area.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04We've got evidence we want to put to him,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06photographs we want to show him and really
0:38:06 > 0:38:10basically it is his opportunity to give his version of events.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14The man admits to dumping the fireplace
0:38:14 > 0:38:16but has an unusual explanation.
0:38:16 > 0:38:21He claims that he went on to that land a couple of days previous
0:38:21 > 0:38:24and found that fireplace,
0:38:24 > 0:38:28took it to his daughter's house to use as a fire surround at her house
0:38:28 > 0:38:30and she didn't approve.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33She didn't like it and told him to put it back where he got it from
0:38:33 > 0:38:36so a couple of days later, he did.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38And what...the photographs we've got
0:38:38 > 0:38:41are him putting it back where he found it.
0:38:41 > 0:38:46So, but we have pointed out to him that...tough.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48Tough! You've took responsibility for it.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53On this occasion, Louise and Mike decide to caution the fly tipper
0:38:53 > 0:38:57but if he is caught again, he could face the full force of the law.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13While some residents' calls to the council have been resolved,
0:39:13 > 0:39:16Khush Ahmed is returning to Thorncliffe Hall Farm,
0:39:16 > 0:39:20where tensions between neighbours are still running high.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24Gill Cooper shares a water supply with her next-door neighbour
0:39:24 > 0:39:29and has called the council because the flow from her taps is intermittent.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34When you are living in those 15 minute segments of, you know,
0:39:34 > 0:39:37there's no water or you're in the shower and the water runs out,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39it is a real frustration.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Two weeks ago, Khush served Gill's neighbour Gaynor
0:39:42 > 0:39:45with a notice to change the valve in her yard
0:39:45 > 0:39:48for a larger one that could not be turned on or off.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53But the deadline has passed and the work hasn't been carried out.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56So with the help of a local plumber, the council are removing
0:39:56 > 0:39:59the valve and will charge Gaynor for the job later.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02What we are doing is removing that stop tap
0:40:02 > 0:40:06and just connecting a free-flowing pipe. So that there is...
0:40:06 > 0:40:09I mean, there's allegations that's being switched on and off,
0:40:09 > 0:40:13which restricts supply to these two cottages.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19So, once that's removed and we've got a free-flowing pipe,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22there's no way that the water can be restricted or disrupted, really.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26While the plumber gets to work,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Khush chats to Gill and her neighbour, Mike,
0:40:28 > 0:40:31who simply want a steady flow of water to their homes.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34If that happens today, Khush, I think that's all,
0:40:34 > 0:40:36on this issue, we've ever wanted.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40I can't tell you how good it will feel to just get water upstairs.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44- So we'll keep our fingers crossed, then, for rest of the day.- Yeah.
0:40:46 > 0:40:49With the valve in question finally removed, it's time to test
0:40:49 > 0:40:53the supply to see if the flow is now steady rather than intermittent.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01WATER TRICKLES
0:41:01 > 0:41:06It's been an anxious wait and the pressure is low but finally,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09a constant flow of water has been restored.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11The main thing for me
0:41:11 > 0:41:14is we've got some water coming into that again now.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17That's my main issue is we've got water there
0:41:17 > 0:41:19where we didn't have before.
0:41:19 > 0:41:23I think it's a massive relief as far as we are concerned.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28I mean, cos what we know now is that tap has been removed
0:41:28 > 0:41:31and there is nothing restricting it now that's coming this way
0:41:31 > 0:41:34and I think that's all we've ever asked for.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Gill and Mike will have to wait for the pressure to build up
0:41:37 > 0:41:40before the water supply is back to its best
0:41:40 > 0:41:43but this is a successful end to a difficult dispute.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46I feel very happy today.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49I mean, I feel quite satisfied that the job
0:41:49 > 0:41:51that we came to do has been done.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Once it's back to normal there will be a big candlelit bath, I think.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Once again, the country's local councils
0:42:03 > 0:42:06and their heroic officers have been working hard for their residents.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10They've helped a whole street rid their homes of mice.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14I've killed four up to now. Two big ones and two small ones.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17They stopped the flow of faulty gutters.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20- Yes, I am pleased it's done. - It's done.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Responded when residents called
0:42:22 > 0:42:25about someone creating a blot on their landscape.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29He had no consideration for anybody in the area.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31They had no consideration for how the land looks,
0:42:31 > 0:42:35the mill looks, you know, with all this rubbish outside.
0:42:35 > 0:42:40And put an end to a dispute about water that was far from neighbourly.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43So, that's with the valve fully open
0:42:43 > 0:42:46but that's the sort of supply you are getting here.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50And most importantly, they dedicated themselves to their residents
0:42:50 > 0:42:53when they called the council.
0:42:53 > 0:42:58When you resolve a situation for an individual, they do appreciate that.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02I think the public are a lot more aware of what we do
0:43:02 > 0:43:06and the type of work that we can respond to.