Episode 12 Call the Council

From grappling with our daily grind...

Why have they suddenly decided

to dump all this waste in other people's bins?

..to unearthing the extraordinary.

Wow. It's Wigan's gold mask.

Battling those blighting the streets.

That's not acceptable, really.

Bringing the community together.

Hi, how you?

And being on hand in troubled times.

I've got kids, we can't open the bedroom windows cos of the noise.

It's affecting everything. Sleep, just day-to-day living, really.

In this series, we follow frontline staff working for Wigan Council

in Greater Manchester.

I speak to the waste.

I sort of say to it, like, come on, talk to me. Have you got it yet?

Like council officers across the country,

they're keeping us free from harm.

You're looking at really serious injury, or possibly death.

Stepping in to try and solve our problems.

-It's constant.

-You'll be told today that we will be serving notice.

And responding to residents.

Much appreciate what you're doing.

When they...

What was the enquiry today?

..call the council.

Coming up, council officers protect the planet

from a potentially dangerous chemical cocktail.

The chemical treatment they're using is toxic to the environment.

We don't want to get it into the watercourses

where it could kill fish or other aquatic life.

Take steps to sort out a health-and-safety complaint at a garage.

You really need some airport ladders.

I'm trying to work out whether this is a complaint by Joe Public,

or whether it's by the staff and it's a vendetta.

And use the full force of the law

against a noisy nuisance neighbour.

There's a number of recordings

between two o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the morning,

and we will now apply to the magistrates court for a warrant

so that we can enter the property, with force, if necessary.

KNOCKING

Dealing with the concerns of residents

is central to any council's operation.

With a population of over 300,000,

Wigan Council receives over half a million calls a year.

It has a team of 5,000 ready to respond to its community.

Barry Pilkington, Public Health. Can I help you, please?

It's public protection officer Barry Pilkington's job

to make his borough a cleaner and safer place to live.

The things that keep me busy are complaints of defective drains

allowing rats onto the surface.

And then the problems that they can cause if they get into maybe shops,

food premises, or domestic properties.

Smoking chimneys, people making fires.

People failing to pick up dog fouling.

Welcome to Wigan contact centre.

Sarah speaking, how can I help?

Sometimes investigating a call to the council demands patience,

persistence and perseverance.

Today, Barry and fellow public protection officer Colin Evans

are tackling a serial offender.

A resident who refuses to clean up the dog foul in his back yard.

There's a very strong ammonia odour. Very strong.

It's not just a case of picking up the fouling and removing it.

We need the area to be disinfected.

We need to make sure that odours are kept to a minimum,

and I don't think there's any effort being made at all here now.

I mean, it's pretty strong, isn't it? It's pretty strong.

Subjectively, I would say that is seven, eight out of ten.

I mean, I'm stood a fair distance now.

It's making me feel a bit sick, that.

It's... I wouldn't like to live next door to it.

And I'm afraid I would be ranting and raving.

In fact, I'd probably bang on his door and give him some grief myself,

if I lived next door to that. I just would not tolerate that.

That is just disgusting.

But Barry has come armed with a solution to this smelly situation.

I have a letter in my possession here.

I'm going to hand it to the gentleman concerned

to try and gee him up. But I'll also be telling him

that there's a possibility of legal action now.

We are down the line where we are definitely considering legal action.

It stinks, though, doesn't it?

This isn't the first time Barry has been to this location.

In fact, he's been here numerous times over the past 12 months.

It started last year when a resident called the council

regarding a back yard full of dog mess.

We are in receipt of a complaint regarding dog fouling.

A chappie in our borough,

he's not picking up his dog fouling as and when necessary,

resulting in an accumulation of dog fouling in his rear yard area.

What Barry found on his first visit was shocking.

I'm afraid the conditions in this rear yard are simply not acceptable.

I just want to take some photographs.

I would estimate that the fouling hasn't been picked up for...

a number of weeks.

With the photographic evidence captured,

Barry tried to speak to the dog owner

about the excessive level of fouling.

With no response,

Barry issued the dog owner with an official abatement notice,

telling him to clean up the mess.

On his second visit, Barry wanted to see

if the resident had acted upon the council's notice.

That is much more acceptable.

There's a little bit of dog fouling at the top end of the yard.

But, on the whole, I would say

that 98% of the fouling has been picked up and removed.

After another evening inspection,

it looked like the residents had finally seen sense.

It ended positively. That's what we're after.

I will keep my eye on this.

And, obviously, there are people around here

who are affected by the dog fouling.

I'm sure that if they've got problems,

they will contact the council.

And, if contacted, we will visit again.

Now, a year later,

Barry has returned because the problem has started again

and a new call to the council has come in.

Having seen the fresh evidence in the back yard,

Barry is going to confront the dog's owner.

But he's too busy to answer the door.

He's having his meal.

I've just heard the gentleman tell us that he's having his tea,

it would appear. Shall we give it five minutes? And we'll call back.

It looks like it's going to be a waiting game for Barry and Colin.

Coming up, Barry's dogged in his approach to foul odours,

and sets a deadline for this canine's owner.

Hello there, sir.

If we find out after 48 hours there's no improvement,

we will be going to court.

Councils across the country are responsible for regulating

the health and safety of small businesses in their boroughs.

This equates to just over half of the UK's workforce.

With over 600,000 accidents at work each year,

councils have an important role in reducing the number

of injuries and illnesses within their communities.

Part of environmental health officer Helen Richardson's job

is business compliance.

She makes sure that companies

don't put their staff or the public in danger.

PHONE RINGS

Hello, business compliance, Helen speaking.

An anonymous complainant has called the council about a local business.

We received a complaint today about a garage

where there are some health and safety concerns,

including there being no supportive chain on the garage door.

That there is no guard on the tyre-fitting machine.

And there are some other issues. So, we're going to go down there

and have a look today, see what's going on.

All right, thanks very much, goodbye.

They won't be expecting us today. It is an unannounced visit.

We want to try and see how those people and businesses are operating

without them knowing that we're coming.

It can be quite nerve-racking, really,

going down to these places where you've never been before.

You might not know how they're going to react to you turning up.

For her own health and safety,

Helen has paired up with colleague Lynn Fish.

Fortunately, they're met with a warm welcome by garage owner Alan Bott.

Hello. My name's Helen Richardson.

-Hello.

-Lynn Fish.

-How are you doing?

-From Wigan council.

We've come down today to discuss a complaint that we've received

regarding some health and safety issues, if that's all right?

-No problem. Fire away.

-All right.

-We'll get them sorted.

I can see out in the yard that the tyres are actually piled quite high.

-Yeah.

-Would you be able to show us some of those...

-Can we see the ladders?

-We'll have a look outside.

Yeah, if you wish. Yeah.

-Is this the highest they're stacked?

-This is the highest we stack them.

And these would be the ladders that are used for the heights?

They'd use them for those. If you want to go to shorter level,

we've got the yellow ones behind us.

So, these ladders, is that piece of wood attached to them?

That one there, that's attached to it just in case it does slip, yes.

-Right, OK.

-You really need some airport ladders.

-Some what?

-Airport steps.

-The ones with...

-They're like...

You need three points of contact when you're getting things down.

-All right, OK. No problem.

-It's not safe.

-If we have to do that, we'll do it.

-Is that all right?

Leaning ladders have the potential to slip

when heavy objects are being moved.

Ladders with an extra set of feet, such as airport ladders,

offer more stability and could stop this from happening.

I understand it's a health-and-safety issue.

-It is.

-No problem.

-Like Helen says...

I am quite surprised, I mean regarding...

I've not had any, um...

..staff with any injury that I know about, regarding this.

I've not had any staff which have left with any injuries like this.

You know what I mean, etc, so I'm quite surprised.

I'm trying to work out whether this is a complaint by Joe Public,

an observation, or whether it's by the staff and it's a vendetta.

I'm quite surprised on this,

but you'd not be able to tell me that.

-No.

-I understand you're just going to take it

-on the merit you're asking me.

-Yeah.

Coming up, Helen has more health-and-safety questions for Alan.

There is a possibility that tyre could explode.

-There is a possibility when I'm inflating that it can explode.

-Yeah.

When we make a call to the council, we want the problem solved fast.

But, for the council, there's not always a quick fix.

And some of us are left feeling disgruntled.

I think one of the problems these days in this world of IT

is everybody quotes the website.

Go to a website, go to a hotline,

which can be very frustrating.

You can be waiting ages on the phone.

You go to a website, leave a message and you don't get a message back.

I'm a chef, at the end of the day,

and when someone asks me to do something, I do it straightaway.

When we approach the council to do something,

it takes three or four weeks, maybe longer.

I believe, from my own experience,

that my council is good.

Whatever dealings I've had with them,

they've always been good and resolved the situation.

Public protection officers Barry Pilkington and Colin Evans

are dealing with a serial offender who won't clear up his dog's mess.

Barry's been forced to threaten the dog owner with legal action.

It's pretty strong, isn't it? It's pretty strong.

As far as I'm concerned, there is a statutory nuisance occurring now,

as I am stood here.

Barry and Colin have given the reticent resident

time to finish his dinner.

They're hoping this time he'll open the door so they can confront him.

Hello, there, sir. What it is, we've had a complaint.

I've been round the back. And, for me, that is a statutory nuisance.

It absolutely reeks of urine and foul odours

at the bottom of your yard.

That is permeating to the properties either side of you

and they're being affected by the conditions in your yard.

There is a letter there, a self-explanatory letter,

all about the fact that there is an abatement notice being served,

and what actions you need to take

to try and keep your yard free from odours.

If we call here in 48 hours

and we find that there are still odours from your rear yard,

we will consider legal action.

It's important that you understand that.

You do understand that? All right, sir.

I'll leave it with you. Any problems at all, you give us a ring.

Thank you, bye, now.

Me and my colleague have been doing this job for many, many years.

Probably the best part of 60 years between the pair of us.

I think I can honestly say to you,

that's one of the worst I've ever smelt.

It's horrendous, it's shocking.

So, now, the letter that I've given him, in layman's terms,

it'll give him 48 hours to have a think about it,

to clean up and to disinfect.

Not just clean up, to disinfect.

To take steps to keep odours to a minimum.

If we find out after 48 hours there's no improvement,

we will be going to court.

Coming up, Barry sticks his nose in again.

Can he resolve this smelly situation?

Councils have a responsibility

to make sure local businesses are operating safely.

Can you try and get that shut now then? Yeah?

And, frequently, that means keeping a close eye on the local environment

and monitoring pollution.

We're keen to encourage business to come into the borough.

But, equally, we wouldn't accept a company coming into the borough

and causing excessive amounts of pollution

and turn a blind eye on that

just because it's economically favourable.

We have to protect the environment.

Public protection officer Steve Tesson-Fell

has been called by a company

that needs a permit to meet new environmental standards.

The business treats timber with chemicals,

some of them highly toxic. And Steve can only issue the permit

if the company can demonstrate that it uses those chemicals safely.

One of the things they do on-site here is take untreated wood

and they treat it in order to enhance its service life.

This has been treated, it has that slightly green tint to it.

And in a household situation, you would generally find treated timber

in fence panels, or wooden garden furniture, or decking.

The timber is treated using a process known as Tanalisation.

Planks are loaded inside a sealed container

and preservative chemicals forced into the wood under high pressure.

We're here today to have a look at how they treat it

and to ensure that doesn't adversely impact on the environment.

The treatment preserves the wood from fungal disease and weathering,

giving our fences and decking a longer lifespan.

But the preservatives used include copper carbonate,

copper hydroxide and boric acid.

Chemicals that are poisonous to humans and animals.

The chemical treatment they're using is toxic to the environment.

We don't want it entering or contaminating the ground.

We don't want to get it into watercourses, where it could kill fish or other aquatic life.

So, that's why the containment system is important.

The way these dangerous chemicals

are handled and contained within the building

is the focus of Steve's inspection.

Manager Roger knows his procedures have to be spot-on

to get the permit he needs.

Hopefully, all our processes are up-to-date

and everybody's going to be content with the way we run the company.

Steve will inspect the whole process from beginning to end

before he can make a decision on this new permit.

The first step is to seal the wood in the pressure container

so that no chemicals can leak out.

In terms of the treatment vessels,

you've got interlocks in place

so the door can't open whist it's operating.

The door needs to be properly closed

before the liquid treatment chemicals

can get pumped into the pressure vessel.

The pressure container can now be filled with the chemical cocktail

that will preserve the wood.

Coming up, Steve needs to be sure

that Roger is dealing with all of the toxic waste safely.

What I want to watch is what happens to the residual liquid

that's going to drain off that timber. I want to make sure

it's all contained within this treatment building.

Councils deal with pollution in many forms.

Wigan Council received over 500 noise complaints last year.

Wigan Council, Paul Gallagher speaking.

And today, enforcement officer Paul Gallagher is receiving one more.

So, you're saying you've been affected by the noise

in the early hours of the morning?

And...

During the day as well. And how long does this go on for?

And it's a case he knows well.

These complainants first called the council eight months ago

because their neighbour was playing loud music at unsociable hours.

Paul investigated and issued the neighbour with an abatement notice,

instructing him to stop.

But now the noise is back. If it's proven

that the music is being played at an unacceptable level,

Paul has the power to seize the sound system

and start court proceedings.

Paul's first priority in a case like this

is to record and accurately measure

the level and frequency of the nuisance.

The aim of the visit today is install noise-monitoring equipment

to gather evidence to see if there's a breach of the notice.

If there is a breach of the notice, we've got various options,

which include gathering evidence to go for prosecution,

or also we could even seize the equipment.

Paul previously dealt with noise from industry,

but now he's dealing with residential complaints.

Dealing with unsocial behaviour has been a massive learning curve

over the past 18 months.

My preconceptions of it were completely blown out the water.

Sometimes there may be an underlying problem,

such as mental health issues,

learning difficulties, substance misuse.

But, also, some people are just bad.

The man who called the council has already made his own recording

of his neighbour's nocturnal noises.

It was over here one night. Recorded this.

12:27pm,

this is the other side of the room from the side of the neighbours,

and it's... This is just on an iPhone lying in the bed.

LOUD MUSIC PLAYS

Keiran shares the bedroom with his wife and newborn baby.

It's not the haven of peace and quiet that they all need.

You go to bed at night, not knowing if you're going to be woke up.

So you go to work absolutely knackered.

The baby's in here with us,

it wakes the baby up.

So, we're all just limping along, really.

If this doesn't get solved,

we're going to have to sell up and move somewhere else.

Hopefully, Paul's intervention will mean that Keiran's family

won't have to consider the drastic step of finding a new home.

-All right?

-How you doing?

-Not so bad.

I believe things haven't been too good recently.

No, he's...at it again.

The night before last.

It literally sounds like we've got a stereo at the end of the bed,

just playing full whack all night.

Roughly what time is it occurring?

It alters. Between the hours of 12 and six in the morning.

Is it happening at the weekend, or during the week?

Normally when his benefits go in.

Your see the Iceland van pull up outside

and they bring all his White Lightning in, and then that's it.

It's hell for a few days.

The equipment will be left for seven days.

It will accurately measure the volume of noise,

giving the necessary evidence to prove that the neighbour

is breaking the conditions of the original abatement notice.

To get away from the noise, we slept downstairs on the sofa.

But you can still hear it as clear as day down here.

But...a lot of sleepless nights and tears.

Now the equipment is up and running, Paul shows Keiran how to use it.

When you're affected by the noise, just press the button.

It'll come on red. That shows it's recording.

That's measuring noise all the time, because it's plugged in.

But it will only record when you press the button.

So, you can have conversations in here

and it won't get picked up by the machine.

All right, see you next week.

It's a sad thing that we've got to have it in,

but it's one of them measures you've got to take

and hopefully it'll lead to some form of prosecution.

And then the noise will stop.

Coming up, will the recordings provide the evidence Paul needs

to be able to take action?

Environmental health officers Helen Richardson and Lynn Fish

are making a surprise inspection of a garage.

Anonymous complaints have been made

about the business's health and safety.

They've queried Alan on his ladders.

So, these ladders, is that piece of wood attached to them?

That one there, that's actually attached to it,

just in case it does slip, yes.

The next complaint to check

is whether a roller shutter will stay up without a safety chain.

-So, if you took that away...

-I need to release that up there,

move the catch, and it will come down.

So, if that was to come away, or fall, the door would come down.

In 15 years, it never has. But there's always a first time.

Alan doesn't believe there's anything wrong with the shutter.

-So it will hold without it?

-It will hold.

-That's what we we're asking.

-Yeah, of course.

-That's what I was asking you.

-We just don't want, obviously, if that...

-I understand.

I just put it there just in case.

The way you were saying it,

I thought it kind of fell when you took that off.

Alan shows the officers how he changes a tyre.

And then demonstrates his tyre-pressure tester.

Every tyre, by the way, has actually been checked

by this tyre-pressure machine here. OK?

What this does, it pretends to be a wheel.

OK? So, I can put all types of tyres in here by changing the chucks.

OK? And what we can do is we can pressure-test it

to see if there's any issues going on.

Helen's worried that the pressure machine's not safe.

-Would you not need a guard on that?

-No.

-Why?

As far as I know, the manufacturers don't do one.

Theoretically, if you're using part-worn tyres on that,

with pressure going round,

there is a possibility that tyre could explode.

-There is a possibility when they're in place, it can explode.

-Yeah.

The pressure on Alan is building.

I want you to show me machines that have actually got it.

-It's actually guidance from health and safety.

-Guidance?

-So, you can't show me any evidence of a machine that's got one.

-No.

No, please, show me one. I'll be impressed.

I will send you some information, though.

-So you can read about it and...

-No, bring it, I want to see it.

Helen then spots something else.

-Can I ask you about your tyres up here?

-Yeah.

How do you get them down?

Ladder, and only me does that.

I don't climb in that handle.

I get it out and I put it up there.

The reason for that is they're all scared of heights.

-Right.

-Joke.

I don't believe that.

I will have to carry on with this as I've got a customer waiting.

On with the job.

Helen and Lynn leave Alan to his business

and take stock of what they've seen.

He explained his tyre-fitting procedures

and the inflation procedures

and how he uses the pressure-gauge machine.

Probably got a few concerns that I'll need to address.

I'll go back and look at the guidance,

look at the legislation again. Then we'll be in contact with him.

Alan reflects on his call from the council.

Yeah, the ladies from the council...

Better bite me tongue! No, they did a good job.

They're there to do a good job, such as all of them.

Sometimes I feel, and the saying is, they're stealing a living.

But that can be done in all walks of life.

Well, he's going to get his ladders and he was very cooperative.

He said he'll get those within 48 hours

so that his staff can access the tyres.

Oh, I'll sort it out. Get my airport ladders, which she said.

That's not a problem. We'll sort the ladders out here.

There wasn't an issue with the roller shutter door,

which she thought there was. But, yeah, it all needs doing.

They're there to do something,

and it's for the safety of the staff and myself. Bring it on.

Ladders!

Coming up, will Alan be true to his word

and carry out the recommendations?

Barry Pilkington has been dealing with a long-running complaint -

a man who doesn't clear up his dog's mess from the back yard.

He thought he'd fixed it a year ago, but now it's started again.

Barry has given the resident a deadline to clean up

or else face legal action.

If we find out, after 48 hours, there's no improvement,

we will be going to court.

The 48-hour deadline has passed.

And Barry is back at the back yard to see if the resident is complying.

Basically, we are revisiting here today,

to have a little look in the rear yard area,

see if there's any further dog fouling,

see if there's a problem with odours.

If there is, then it will be a case of...

The matter will be referred to the council's legal section

with a view to possible prosecution.

After 30 years tackling odour complaints,

Barry's nose knows what to sniff for.

But on this occasion,

the rain could be dampening down the dodgy doggy aroma.

There's a slight amount of dog fouling.

And, again, a slight odour. But only a slight odour.

Certainly not enough to give rise to statutory nuisance.

So, at this moment in time, we will continue to monitor,

maybe a couple of times a week,

just to see if the person who's responsible for the dog

living at the property

keeps on top of things, keeps the yard clear of fouling,

and also odour.

Barry will return to check the resident keeps the mess

down to an acceptable level.

Coming up, Barry's frustrated

by the time it's taking to resolve this job.

We need to be looking at enforcement action,

and that is where we're up to with this particular complaint.

Public protection officer Steve Tesson-Fell

is inspecting a timber-treatment plant

to make sure the poisonous preservatives they use

are properly contained.

The business needs a new permit

to keep in line with a change in environmental legislation.

If the process isn't safe, Steve can refuse the permit.

The chemical treatments they're using is toxic to the environment.

So, we don't want it entering the ground, contaminating the ground.

We don't want it in watercourses,

where it could kill fish or other aquatic life.

After two hours, the wood has absorbed most of the chemical liquid

and is removed from the container.

What I want to watch is what happens to the residual liquid

that's going to drain off that timber. I want to make sure

it's all contained within this treatment building.

Liquid that hasn't been absorbed drains from the planks

as they're transported for storage.

Channels on the sloped floor are designed

to direct the flow of the liquid into a tank.

You can see from where it's going,

it's all heading back down towards the sump.

So, that's good. That's contained.

Although it looks quite messy and there's a lot of it there,

it will get... It will get contained in the sump and will get recycled.

But Steve spots forklift trucks

driving through the chemical spillage and going outside.

It's a potential risk.

Toxic waste could flow into the public drains.

He flags up an imminent rule change to manager Roger.

So, as part of the upgrading,

and I think in two years' time we'll require this from,

um...we're going to be looking at having clean and dirty forklifts.

So there'll be a dirty forklift operating in here,

and a clean one outside. It's so that residue like this

doesn't get tracked out onto the yard outside

where rain could wash it into drains.

Steve has spent two hours inspecting the timber-treatment process.

If he isn't happy with what he's seen,

he can deny the business its new permit, stopping it from operating.

I've had a look around today. I've seen the loading machine,

the unloading machine. I've seen chemical delivery, chemical storage.

The toxic chemicals appear to be recycled properly

and the high-pressure tank seems secure.

But there is a potential issue with the forklift trucks.

Has Roger done enough to get the permit his company needs?

Right, Roger, I'm quite happy with everything I've seen here today.

So, when I go back to the office, at some point this week,

-I'll issue the permit to you.

-That's fantastic. Thanks very much.

No problem at all.

Good news for the environment and Roger.

It shows that we're up to date with the legislation

and we're willing to take everything forward in the correct manners.

Roger now has 24 months to separate his dirty and clean forklifts.

Paul Gallagher has been called to help a young family who can't sleep

due to the loud music being played at all hours by their neighbour.

Paul's installed noise-monitoring equipment

to record and measure the nuisance.

If it's bad, he will start court proceedings

and seize the music system.

Back at the office, Paul is listening back

to the recordings made over the past seven days in the family's home.

Even through headphones, he can tell it's bad.

There's a number of recordings between two o'clock in the morning

and six o'clock in the morning. It's clearly audible.

You can hear the words.

Imagine by John Lennon, Sympathy For The Devil, by the Stones.

Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly.

It sounds like Paul has gathered some solid evidence.

In my opinion, these recordings indicate

that the notice we served last year is being breached

and we will now apply to the magistrates court for a warrant

so that we can enter the property, with force if necessary,

to remove the noise-making equipment.

A few weeks later, the court granted Paul the warrant he needed

to seize the noisy neighbour's sound equipment,

and today is the day of seizure.

In case the man is uncooperative,

Paul has enlisted the help of the police

and is taking them through his plan.

The aim of today's job is that we're going to enter the premises

to remove the noise-making equipment,

as per the warrant we got from the magistrates court.

We're also going to be serving papers on them

for an upcoming court appearance.

It's the first time we've done this for a long time,

so we're not really sure what response we're going to get.

It's unlikely that we're going to get a positive response.

So, we've planned and prepared this

so that we can manage that eventuality.

Briefing over, Paul and the officers make their way to the address.

This is only the third occasion in 20 years

the council has seized equipment to stop noise nuisance.

Doing so means this situation can't escalate

whilst they await a court date.

As far as the council's concerned,

we've given him every opportunity to solve his noise problem.

But now we're taking it in our own hands to solve that.

This job could turn tricky,

because we may have to use force to gain entry,

and it could turn violent.

Hopefully, the presence of the police will reduce that chance.

But until we actually arrive,

we don't know what the response is going to be.

As we're getting closer...my heart is beating a little bit faster.

Coming up, Paul and the police arrive

at the persistent noise-offender's address.

They don't know how they'll be received.

KNOCKING

After an anonymous complaint was made

about a garage's health and safety,

council officers Helen Richardson and Lynne Fish

carried out a surprise inspection.

They were concerned about a roller shutter,

a tyre-pressure machine

and the type of ladder used

to bring tyres down from the top of the stack.

A week has passed,

and Helen is returning to see if garage owner Alan Bott

has made the changes she's asked for.

-Ladders!

-Follow me, please.

-Right.

-Follow me.

The first thing they go to look at

are Alan's new airport-style ladders.

What I've done is actually put a chain on here,

because I'm not happy with being up the top of there

and having a tyre at waist height, maybe, being top-heavy.

-Right.

-We've also put a hard hat there. It's there to be used.

-Whether they use it...

-OK.

That's what I've got.

That's a definite tick.

We're happy with the ladders. Especially now he's got two pairs,

so he can use the other pair on the other aisle,

instead of having to manoeuvre them all the time

he's got one set for each aisle.

We'll just have a look at the back area as well.

Next, Helen offers Alan some advice on the roller shutter.

With the shutters then, you just need to check

whether they need a safety chain.

-I'll find out.

-Is that all right?

-I'll find that out.

But I'm half-tempted maybe to put a chain on it anyway.

-OK.

-Which would keep you sweet.

-Well, it would be better.

It would keep me happy as well. OK, will do.

And finally, she clarifies

how Alan and his staff use the tyre-pressure machine.

When you're using the tyre-inflation machines out there,

like you demonstrated to us,

can you... Can the employees inflate them from a distance?

-Yes.

-It's just, really,

if there was anything to happen and an inflating tyre did explode,

they wouldn't be stood in a position

-where they would get hit by anything, basically.

-No.

-OK.

Helen has seen improvements and given Alan further advice

to keep his business a safe place to work.

We won't come back to visit him now.

We've provided him with the guidance that we need to.

If we do receive further complaints,

then obviously there will be follow-up to that.

Sometimes when you're running a business,

things can get left behind a little bit.

He's aware that can't be at the detriment

to the health and safety of his employees.

At the end of the day, it's got to be done.

If it's done to our best ability and it keeps everybody happy

and it's all done for the safety of everybody else, let's do it.

Public protection officer Barry Pilkington

is battling with a back yard full of dog mess

that's causing a stink in the neighbourhood.

Barry's war on waste has been raging for over a year.

He's returned countless times

to remind the dog owner to clear his yard.

We can't keep going out there and having polite words with people.

You've got to draw a line and say we need to be looking at prosecution.

We need to be looking at enforcement action,

and that is where we're up to with this particular complaint.

I don't want to be doing it.

But if it has to be done, unfortunately, it is my job.

I have two Staffordshire bull terrier dogs.

I work full-time.

The fact of the matter is, if you have dogs,

you have to make sure that you take appropriate steps

and pick up the fouling and legally dispose of it as and when necessary.

There are no excuses.

People may say, it's dark when I come home from work.

I work long shifts. Buy a torch, get an outside light.

Deal with it.

Yet again, Barry is back to inspect and to see whether

his earlier threat of legal action has been heeded.

There is dog fouling there.

No odour, not a lot of flies.

There is no statutory nuisance.

It's a bit disappointing.

I'd have thought, if there'd been an abatement notice served on me,

I would have cleared up the fouling before I'd gone to work.

It would be a top priority for me to clean up.

Ultimately, I have to be the average man in the street.

I can't lean one way or the other.

The fact of the matter is, is there a nuisance?

Are conditions at this property

affecting the rights and enjoyment of other people

to enjoy their homes and get on with their lives?

I'm not totally happy about it, but there is no nuisance there.

We'll leave it be for now.

What I want is, not me coming out here two or three times a year,

but to take on board what I'm saying and pick it up.

Pick it up, remove and legally dispose.

And disinfect the yard down also.

For the last 12 months, Barry has been like a dog with a bone.

Returning time after time

to inspect a back yard that has been a blight to the community,

hoping that one day it would be free from dog mess and foul odours.

For now, there are no grounds for legal action.

But if this changes, a call to the council

will lead Barry back to the back yard he knows only too well.

I'm born and bred in Wigan. Wigan matters to me.

And when we get situations

where people are simply not taking on board what I'm saying,

it can be frustrating,

because it's my job to make people realise

what is expected as being a resident in our borough.

Enforcement officer Paul Gallagher is dealing with a noise complaint.

A young family's sleep is being disturbed

by their neighbour playing loud music

at all hours of the day and night.

If this doesn't get solved,

we're going to have to sell up and move somewhere else.

Paul installed noise-monitoring equipment

that showed that, despite an abatement notice,

the man continued to play his music at an unacceptable level.

There's a number of recordings

between two o'clock in the morning and six o'clock in the morning,

and we will now apply to the magistrates' court for a warrant

so that we can enter the property, with force if necessary,

to remove the noise-making equipment.

Today, Paul, with a police escort,

is going to seize the sound system

to stop the night-time noise nuisance.

KNOCKING

If this goes to plan, the months of sleepless nights could soon be over.

Any sign of life?

Hello.

Paul Gallagher, Wigan Council.

Can we come in?

Once in the house,

Paul exercises his authority as an enforcement officer

and formally cautions the noisy neighbour.

The man is cooperative, but is summoned to court

for breaching his noise abatement notice.

Paul can use what he finds in the house and the man's words

as evidence against the nuisance neighbour

when he brings his prosecution to court.

After a search of the property,

Paul confiscates the computer and loudspeakers

that he believes have been causing the racket.

Paul takes the confiscated computer

back to the council's secure lock-up.

It's been a long but successful day.

It's a massive relief when something goes as neatly as that.

It shows that all the planning was worth it.

Really chuffed.

Obviously, we don't know if he's going to plead guilty or not guilty.

We feel we've got quite a strong case

and we'll run with that case as far as we need to.

Three weeks later, Paul makes his way to Wigan Magistrates' Court

for the case to be heard.

It's the culmination of months of work

on a case that began over a year ago.

Today I'm here for the noise-complaint case.

It's going to be the first hearing. Don't know what's going to happen.

It's likely it could get adjourned, but, equally,

it could also be done and dusted today.

Going to go inside and find out what's happening.

Paul has submitted all his evidence

and now the result rests in the magistrates' hands.

The nuisance neighbour pleaded guilty

to four counts of failure to comply

with the original noise abatement notice.

He was fined £500 and given a four-year criminal behaviour order.

If he plays music loudly again, disturbing his neighbours,

he will breach the order and could end up in prison.

For the complainants,

it means that they know we've investigated the complaint

and we've taken decisive, formal action.

The seized noise equipment was returned to the offender,

but so far he has obeyed the conditions of the court order.

All is quiet, and neighbour Keiran is happy.

Since the court case, it's been a lot better for all of us.

The baby is sleeping through. The atmosphere has changed.

Everyone was waking up grumpy and tired,

whereas now we're all quite fresh and getting on a lot better.

So, all good.