0:00:02 > 0:00:04From rubbish and recycling...
0:00:05 > 0:00:07..to potholes and pavements.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11- Another street down, another street to go.- Educating our children...
0:00:11 > 0:00:15- Fantastic! - ..and caring for the elderly.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20It does make a difference when you see what can be achieved.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25We rely on our local councils to provide a huge range of services.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27You may kiss the bride.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:00:30 > 0:00:33In this series, we follow front-line staff
0:00:33 > 0:00:36working for Wigan Council in Greater Manchester.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Oh, sorry!
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Like council offices across the country,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43- they're protecting us from hidden dangers...- Oh, dear.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46..stepping in when there's an emergency...
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- You never know what you're turning up to.- All right.- Thank you.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- ..and responding to residents... - Good job done.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55..when they call the council.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Coming up on today's programme,
0:01:07 > 0:01:12help for a resident who's got rats in her roof.
0:01:12 > 0:01:18Rats and mice chew through cables. I don't want going up in smoke.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23Rubbish on the street. Council officers chase the fly-tippers.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27It's a blot on the landscape, looking at it. It's just ridiculous.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30And, after 100 years,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34the council gives a local war hero the homecoming he never had.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Today is a very special day
0:01:37 > 0:01:41to remember and honour a truly remarkable man.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Wigan lies 20 miles west of Manchester.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The borough's home to over 300,000 people.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03The backbone of the community is the council.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Fran speaking, how can I help?
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Its aim is to support and improve
0:02:09 > 0:02:12the lives of everyone that lives here.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Any problems, just give us a call back, OK?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Calls to the council about core services,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25like waste and highways, are dealt with by staff at Wigan's superdepot.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Each job's different,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32so each job, I'm not getting bored
0:02:32 > 0:02:34because I'll go from a camera survey to a repair,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37from a repair to a soil stack, so I'm doing varied work all day.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Tommy Robinson sorts out stuff that starts under ground.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47As soon as I start walking on the floor, it churns it up.
0:02:47 > 0:02:54I actually think it's...maybe one of the dirtiest jobs on the council.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56But a lot of people do appreciate you turning up
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and sorting their problems out.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06I do get pride out my job. I do enjoy what I do.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Today, Tommy's been sent to two homes on the outskirts of town
0:03:12 > 0:03:14to investigate a rat problem.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Brief history about this one.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20I've been, on a couple of occasions,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23following pest control.
0:03:23 > 0:03:29So, I'm going to do a full camera survey on both bungalows.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Lynn McSpirit and her next door neighbour called the council
0:03:36 > 0:03:40after hearing scuffling noises in their shared roof space.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43First time I heard them, I was in the kitchen
0:03:43 > 0:03:47putting the kettle on and, where the light is in the kitchen,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51they were right in the middle, where the wire comes down into your light.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55And I'm thinking, "Rats and mice chew through cables.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58"I don't want going up in smoke."
0:04:02 > 0:04:04I hope she's got the kettle on.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Council officers have been called here several times before
0:04:09 > 0:04:12but the rats keep coming back.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17We're hoping we can get the situation finally sorted out
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and get rid of them.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Tommy wants to find out, once and for all,
0:04:26 > 0:04:28how they're getting into the roof.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34- Are you hearing them in the kitchen? - I have heard them.- Below not above?
0:04:34 > 0:04:36- I've only heard them this year. - Yeah.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38I've smelt them,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42but smelling them and hearing them is two different things.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45What I'll do, then, is I'll concentrate next door first,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48cos I've got a feeling it's coming from next door.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Tommy and his colleague, Dean Rigby,
0:04:53 > 0:04:57start investigations at the bungalow next door to Lynn's.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01They've brought along the full toolkit,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04including the CCTV drains inspection camera.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09Tommy soon picks up signs
0:05:09 > 0:05:12that unwanted visitors are close to the house.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15I'm just having a look to see if there's any activity,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18regarding rats...and there is.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20I can see footprints and what have you.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Sack that one for the time being. Let's carry on with this connection.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35The special camera gives Tommy a rodent's-eye view
0:05:35 > 0:05:38of what's going on down the drain.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41The pictures will, hopefully, reveal how rats
0:05:41 > 0:05:45are getting from the drain to the wall cavity and up into the roof.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Experts estimate there are now up to ten million rats
0:05:54 > 0:05:56living in urban areas of Britain.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Rats in the roof are a serious problem.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03They chew through wood and wires,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06causing structural damage, even fires.
0:06:09 > 0:06:14- Tommy thinks he's found something... - Hmm, look at you.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17# Dur, da-ra, da. #
0:06:17 > 0:06:20..a break in the drainage pipe.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It's not like that, it's like that.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29So...any little moggy can get up there,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31start digging to go round...
0:06:32 > 0:06:35..and make its way into the bathroom area.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Further investigation's needed,
0:06:39 > 0:06:44in case the rats have found more pathways into the roof space.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Just flush toilet cock, please.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50TOILET FLUSHES
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Still to come...
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Are rats tunnelling through Lynn's drain as well?
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Tommy goes down under to find out more.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01It's what I get paid for.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I don't mind it. I'd bathe in this stuff, if I could!
0:07:15 > 0:07:20Rubbish is a multimillion-pound problem for our local councils.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Last year, they were called out
0:07:21 > 0:07:24to more than three-quarters of a million incidents
0:07:24 > 0:07:27of illegally dumped waste.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Two out of three cases involved fly-tipped rubbish
0:07:30 > 0:07:32from people's homes.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Hello, Waste Services. Mark Farrimond speaking. Hello, yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42You want to report fly-tipping?
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Environmental Enforcement Officer Mark Farrimond
0:07:45 > 0:07:48is getting ready for another busy day on the road.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53I've got a variety of jobs and quite interesting
0:07:53 > 0:07:55because, with the fly-tipping,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58each day, you never know what you're going to find.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02Mark's heading out to the front line
0:08:02 > 0:08:05to fight Wigan Council's ongoing battle
0:08:05 > 0:08:07to keep the streets clean and safe.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19The first job for today is we've had a report of some fly-tipping
0:08:19 > 0:08:22by a neighbour in the town centre of Wigan.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Their house backs onto the area.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Fly-tipping's on this area somewhere.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31That's where I've been told it is.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Oh, it's here, it's here, in the corner.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48This is sort of typical of a fly-tip.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51You've got different sorts of waste.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54A lot of it could be windblown litter, really, which is...
0:08:54 > 0:08:57It doesn't look good, but there is, certainly,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59some bags of stuff around here.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04It's a blot on the landscape, looking at it. It's just ridiculous.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06It's going to cost some to clean up
0:09:06 > 0:09:08and, if there was any foodstuff in all this,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10it would be ideal harbourage for rodents.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Before Mark investigates further, a local resident's come over
0:09:18 > 0:09:20to warn him about used needles in the rubbish.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23I've just come to let you know that there's always people,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27- smackheads that I always see. - Oh, right.- They're here quite a lot.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30They tend to sleep here. Just thought I'd let you know.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33It's always handy, and if there's some drug paraphernalia in there,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- we'll have a look.- Yep.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37And if I need to, I'll get the sharps lads out.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39- Be careful yourself, as well. - Yeah, thanks for that.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- All right, thank you. See you.- Bye.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46You come across some decent people,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48there's no doubt about that, doing our job.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51She didn't have to come over and warn me, but she did do.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Old quilt cover.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Mark sifts through the rubbish.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02There might be information, like an old address,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04that could lead him to the fly-tippers.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08We love, in our game, cardboard packaging.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Sometimes there's a label on the packaging, or whatever,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14and it usually gives you a positive line of inquiry.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17There's a label on this bag, which is...
0:10:17 > 0:10:20It's that badly disintegrated, you can't really make it out.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24So, that would have been handy.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30It's very frustrating when you can't find anything in waste,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32especially the amount that's here.
0:10:33 > 0:10:38The people that do this really can... It annoys you,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41because it's now mixed up in all the trees,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44so it's going to make it harder to get it cleaned up
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and it's just a blight on the landscape.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54It's been a difficult first job but, for unexpected reasons,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57it could be Mark's lucky day.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Look at that.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Just think, if that's a winner now and I've just picked that up.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Every cloud has a silver lining. You never know with that, do you?
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I can honestly say I've never found a lottery ticket in waste.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12That's a first, that, defo. That's definitely a first.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23Coming up, Mark has a mystery to solve.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28Why is this bin empty and the rubbish left outside?
0:11:28 > 0:11:33This should be in a waste bin like that, a commercial waste bin.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Hi, mate, I'm from Wigan Council.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Nearly 5,000 council staff deliver a wide range of services
0:11:56 > 0:11:59to the borough of Wigan and its residents.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04David Heyes speaking. 'We're a diverse bunch of people here.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06'We do lots of different jobs.'
0:12:06 > 0:12:09It's only when people realise the work you do,
0:12:09 > 0:12:11they realise the importance
0:12:11 > 0:12:13and the contribution you make to the community.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18But David Heyes' job at the council is more unusual than most.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24I am responsible for naming streets and numbering properties,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27so I create every new address in the borough
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and have done so for the last ten years.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I feel very proud to do my job because I'll leave a sense of legacy
0:12:34 > 0:12:37in the areas where there's new street names.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45David's job is all about preserving local history.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49His latest project is a campaign
0:12:49 > 0:12:52to honour local heroes from World War I.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Soldiers from the Wigan area,
0:12:58 > 0:13:01awarded the Victoria Cross medal for bravery,
0:13:01 > 0:13:04are having a street or a local landmark named after them.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13A lot of our World War I heroes did outstanding acts of bravery
0:13:13 > 0:13:16that provide the lifestyle that we live now,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18so it's more important than ever
0:13:18 > 0:13:21that the council remembers these people,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24specifically involving the local community
0:13:24 > 0:13:27and the younger generation, so they have the history
0:13:27 > 0:13:30and understand what their forefathers did for them.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Private William Kenealy VC came from Ashton-in-Makerfield.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Today, his family, great-nephew William and wife Linda,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45are at the local library that will honour his name.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47That's where it's going to be. It's in there now.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51It's covered up with plywood cos we don't want people seeing it.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55In a few days, a memorial stone will be unveiled,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58facing the town where Private Kenealy used to live.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02Just looks straight into the town there.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05On Remembrance Sunday, they walk down here
0:14:05 > 0:14:09and they walk through the town, so it's in a cracking spot, isn't it?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Absolutely belting spot. - We just want the weather
0:14:11 > 0:14:14to be as good as this now on Wednesday, don't we?
0:14:16 > 0:14:19The Victoria Cross is Britain's highest award
0:14:19 > 0:14:22for bravery in the face of the enemy.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26628 VCs were awarded in World War I.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30Four of them were given to soldiers from the Wigan area.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33This is the Victoria Cross, David.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- That's the VC?- That's the VC.- Right.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38From the reading I've done, they're very rarely awarded,
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Victoria Crosses.- Yes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43You have to provide some outstanding feat of bravery.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Private Kenealy was awarded his Victoria Cross
0:14:48 > 0:14:51for his extraordinary courage at the Gallipoli landings.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00His present-day relatives have done research into what happened.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03The battalion went off to Egypt, initially, and then onto Gallipoli.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09On the morning of 25th April, they arrived, by ship,
0:15:09 > 0:15:13and they were all put onto rowing boats to get onto the beaches.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Heavy machine-gun from the Turks started.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Absolutely all hell broke loose.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Lots of the men were killed in the boats.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22As they got to the edge of the sea,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26they realised that it was completely covered in barbed wire
0:15:26 > 0:15:28underneath the water,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31so what William did was he volunteered
0:15:31 > 0:15:33to belly-crawl through the water
0:15:33 > 0:15:37and to try to cut the wire entanglements, the barbed wire.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39GUNSHOTS
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Eventually, they did get through the barbed wire,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44they got onto the beach and they took position on the cliff.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45That's what their aim was.
0:15:47 > 0:15:52And William, along with five other members of the platoon,
0:15:52 > 0:15:55were nominated by colleagues for the VCs,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59which are now famously known as the "six VCs before breakfast",
0:15:59 > 0:16:04and the W Beach is now known as the Lancashire Landing.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10As well as the memorial stone, Private Kenealy will have
0:16:10 > 0:16:12the children's section of the library named after him.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Obviously, it's covered up now to keep things secret,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19but that's the partition.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22I want to give you a sneak peak but I don't think you want that.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- No, we don't.- OK.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29The memorial has special meaning for his family.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Private Kenealy never returned home to Ashton.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37He died from war injuries at the age of 29.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Ashton was waiting for him to come home.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They were all getting ready for this big celebration with the banners
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and then, unfortunately, he didn't come home.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50William Kenealy's family received a personal letter of condolence
0:16:50 > 0:16:52from King George V.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55"It is a matter of sincere regret to me
0:16:55 > 0:16:58"that the death of Private William Kenealy deprived me
0:16:58 > 0:17:02"of the pride of personally conferring upon him
0:17:02 > 0:17:07"the Victoria Cross, the greatest of all military distinctions.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09"George."
0:17:10 > 0:17:13- That's a very important letter, that.- Yeah.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Reading that letter there,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18makes me feel really proud I'm employed by the council
0:17:18 > 0:17:21and I'm providing such a fitting tribute
0:17:21 > 0:17:22and lasting memory to William.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Coming up, local schoolchildren pay their own special tribute
0:17:29 > 0:17:32to the Victoria Cross hero.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37"Please tell everyone I'm missing them and hope to be back soon."
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Rats in the roof are giving Lynn McSpirit
0:17:54 > 0:17:57and her next door neighbour sleepless nights.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00The noises, the scratching in the attic...
0:18:02 > 0:18:03..on the ceiling.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Drainage investigation operative Tommy Robinson thinks
0:18:07 > 0:18:10the rats are getting in through a crack in one of the drains.
0:18:10 > 0:18:15Any little moggy can get up there, start digging to go round...
0:18:16 > 0:18:19..and make its way into the bathroom area.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Tommy now needs to check out Lynn's house
0:18:23 > 0:18:26to make sure there are no more places for the rats to get in.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29I just want to get the toilet connector,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32so I can fit the camera down the back of it.
0:18:32 > 0:18:38It's dirty, time-consuming work, but at least Lynn's got the kettle on.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Digestives, Bourbons, ginger nuts...
0:18:44 > 0:18:47- Do you not take them out? - Do you know...?
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- How many?- Four.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55- Oh, you can have five cos that top one might not be...- Four dozen!
0:18:57 > 0:18:59Tommy's tea break is over.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02If I try and push it from up here, it's not going to do it.
0:19:02 > 0:19:03Not going to go.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Having checked for any danger,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09he's wading into waste water to find out more.
0:19:09 > 0:19:14It's what I get paid for, my wages. I don't mind it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17I'd bathe in this stuff, if I could!
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Ooh, he's down there. Careful. Man in hole!
0:19:27 > 0:19:30Found three cats, a dog and a squirrel, but no rats!
0:19:33 > 0:19:36You should have sent HIM down. He's thinner than you!
0:19:38 > 0:19:40I'm happy with that one.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45There was a bit of a lip but it's not showing any gaps,
0:19:45 > 0:19:47so I'm going to put that one to bed.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54The rats can't get into Lynn's house through these pipes,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57but Tommy still needs to put a temporary seal
0:19:57 > 0:19:59on the drain next door.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Yeah, very pleased with how he's doing and what they're doing.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12And it's been nice having visitors. Very nice.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20I love banter. Can't beat banter.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Without having banter, your days are eight hours long.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28If you're having banter and you're working at the same time,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30it goes a lot quicker.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40Coming up, Tommy returns to repair the broken drain
0:20:40 > 0:20:44but will it be enough to get rid of the rats?
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Environmental enforcement officer Mark Farrimond is investigating
0:21:01 > 0:21:04calls to the council about fly-tipped rubbish.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10A promising find from the last job is tucked safely away
0:21:10 > 0:21:13under the dashboard.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15I got a lottery ticket out of the waste,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19which, you never know, I could strike gold with that.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22But there's no time for daydreaming.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Reports have come in about bags of food waste piled up in an alleyway.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Not good. Look at this.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42The waste was found by the council cleansing team
0:21:42 > 0:21:45while they were emptying residents' bins.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50The waste lads have been down here, moving some rubbish from the bottom,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and they've come across this,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54as they've been moving that other rubbish.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58They can see it's commercial, so they wouldn't pick that up anyway.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Mark wants to check out the purple waste bin
0:22:01 > 0:22:03where the bags should have been placed.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Purple bin's been emptied.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13There's an issue now, that why's all this waste gathered here,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15if that purple bin's been emptied?
0:22:15 > 0:22:19They should be in a waste bin like that, a commercial waste bin.
0:22:20 > 0:22:25It's a mystery, but Mark has an idea where he can find some answers.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28It's not rocket science where this has come from,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31looking at these bags with the Chinese writing on.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I'm going to go and visit the Chinese restaurant
0:22:36 > 0:22:38just down the road now and see if there's anybody there
0:22:38 > 0:22:40and make some notes.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Hi, mate. I'm from Wigan Council.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Mark's found some of the takeaway staff.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00That waste, those bags, they'll be moved, will they?
0:23:01 > 0:23:02But he needs to speak to the manager.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- Hello.- Hello.- Yes?- Yes, right.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11- Is that about the bin?- Yes.- Right.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15- And it's also about the waste outside.- OK, I'll show you why...
0:23:15 > 0:23:18- Do you want to come in here? I'll show you why.- OK.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Someone's managed to reach her on the phone.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Time for Mark to get to the bottom of what's going on.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28This Friday, he say this bin's broken, he couldn't empty the bin.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31- I see.- And then he say Monday, he coming to change the bin.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33- OK, right.- He didn't coming.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It turns out the purple bin is broken.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Takeaway manager May Yu has been trying to get
0:23:40 > 0:23:42a private waste contractor to remove it
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- and bring a new one.- Can you ask?
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- Can you phone and ask for me because he's not listening to me?- Yes.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51He just keep on saying he's coming to change the bin
0:23:51 > 0:23:53but he did not come.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Perhaps Mark can help speed things up a bit.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Hello, my name's Mark Farrimond.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01I work for Waste Services at Wigan Council.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05I'm ringing you on behalf of Wang's on Orrell Road at Orrell...
0:24:05 > 0:24:07A phone call to the contractors
0:24:07 > 0:24:11will hopefully get that broken bin collected and replaced.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13I'm under the impression she's rung you a few times,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15to be honest with you.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Can Mark get the contractors to put a new bin in place
0:24:18 > 0:24:20so the alleyway can be cleaned up?
0:24:22 > 0:24:26- Bye. Right, what they want you to do...- Yeah.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29- They're going to replace this bin on Monday.- Yeah.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32What they've said is put your waste in this bin
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and then they'll take that on Monday and give you a new bin.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43May rallies her team and gets the waste into the bin straightaway.
0:24:43 > 0:24:44Thanks to Mark,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47she should have the new one delivered in a few days' time.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52- Then Monday, phew, it's gone.- Thank you very much.- Thank you. Thanks.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54One satisfied customer.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00Mark just helped me phone that company
0:25:00 > 0:25:02to sort it out for me
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and then he was saying they're coming next Monday.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07That was great.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10A perfect end to a challenging day.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I always say, "Play the game. The day is what you make it
0:25:15 > 0:25:18"and if you think it's going to be hard work, it'll be hard work,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21"so get a smile on your face and get going."
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Back at the office, there's just one more job to do.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31I'm going to log on and I'm going to go online
0:25:31 > 0:25:34and check this lottery ticket that we found on that job.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Time to find out if the lottery ticket is a winner.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Is Mark about to become Wigan's new millionaire?
0:25:42 > 0:25:45No great luck. Never mind.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Just have to carry on working for the council.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06As well as caring for residents,
0:26:06 > 0:26:10our councils look after many of the buildings, roads and streets
0:26:10 > 0:26:13that we use in our everyday lives.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18Last year, around 7p in every £1 of council tax
0:26:18 > 0:26:21was spent on street lighting and road repairs.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25Our main aim
0:26:25 > 0:26:27is to stop accidents from happening,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30to stop the public injuring themselves,
0:26:30 > 0:26:31stop vehicles being damaged.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Plus, also, if we can catch a defect early enough,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37we can actually repair the small defect
0:26:37 > 0:26:40instead of making it a bigger repair
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and more expensive repair in the long run.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46MUSIC: Billie Jean by Michael Jackson
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Dancing in the street with a paint can...
0:26:50 > 0:26:53..is all part of a regular day's work
0:26:53 > 0:26:56for highways inspector Alan Evans.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00That's why my boots wear out so quickly, out dancing the shuffle.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05But Alan's dots, crosses and strange dance moves have a serious purpose.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10They keep the streets safe for pedestrians.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17If it rocks, it needs re-laying. That's why you have a dance on them.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Crosses indicate a crack needs a new flag
0:27:25 > 0:27:30and the dot indicates it's rocking or uneven and just needs re-laying.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Every working day, Alan walks for miles,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38checking up to 30 streets for trip hazards.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41That is only going to get bigger and bigger,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43so I'm going to get that sorted.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Potholes and uneven flagstones can cause accidents.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- I fell over twice on these things. - I know.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01Last year, UK councils spent £40 million
0:28:01 > 0:28:07on road user compensation claims, up 29% in 12 months.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13So far, Wigan Council has successfully defended
0:28:13 > 0:28:16nine out of ten cases brought against it.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19If a member of the public does fall over something,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22then we have to go out and measure it and take photographs of it
0:28:22 > 0:28:24and, if they decide to sue us,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26then we have to appear in court to defend our actions.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Our job is to avoid that situation.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33Moving onto Navigation Close.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Damaged pavements and roads are measured.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40On Wigan's side streets,
0:28:40 > 0:28:44anything deeper than 25mm is classed as a defect.
0:28:47 > 0:28:52Alan's had a special block made to speed the measuring process up.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54That side's 25mm.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57You put that on the floor and it gets you a true measure.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Instead of my tape measure, you're looking down at an angle at it,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04but with that, you know exactly where the top level is,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06so that's how I measure it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Another street down, another street to go.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16On the move again.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19It's a job that calls for top fitness and a tough pair of boots.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25Yeah, I've had five pairs of boots in a month.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31Alan also investigates calls to the council from local residents
0:29:31 > 0:29:34who may have spotted something dangerous.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39I've marked a patch up, to come and sort the footway out for you.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44Moving onto the back street.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47A call's come in about a mysterious hole
0:29:47 > 0:29:49that's appeared down an alleyway.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52The problem was, the road just sinks.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55This pothole appears, don't know why.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59The council came to fill it in about six months ago.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02It's just appeared again, much larger this time, so...
0:30:02 > 0:30:05I think they really need to investigate
0:30:05 > 0:30:06what's happened, basically.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09The council have mended the hole twice before
0:30:09 > 0:30:14but it's opened up again and this time it's bigger.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16That's what you call a defect.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23Do you know anything about this back street to Twist lane?
0:30:23 > 0:30:24This dig-down.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Alan rings a colleague back at the office.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33He wants the opening investigated and fixed as soon as possible.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35It's getting larger and larger.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38I just want to know when the lads are coming down to sort it out.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43There are young children,
0:30:43 > 0:30:47well, eight, nine, ten years old, playing round there.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51It's just a passageway as well. People can just...
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Ta-ra. Bye. So, he's down for it, next job.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00Hopefully, we'll be able to get it sorted out.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10Council workers are soon on site to dig out the hole.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14But Alan still needs to find out why it's there in the first place.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20It might be caused by a collapsed drain.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22They're digging down to see whether the main sewer,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25which runs down the middle, is actually collapsed
0:31:25 > 0:31:27and that's what's causing it to go again.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30If it's a sewer collapse, United Utilities will have to come out
0:31:30 > 0:31:32and get something sorted with that.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34We'll get it sorted out, one way or another.
0:31:36 > 0:31:37If it is a collapsed drain,
0:31:37 > 0:31:41it's the local water company's responsibility to sort it out.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45Alan needs to monitor the situation closely
0:31:45 > 0:31:47until the mystery is resolved.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Across the borough, a soldier awarded
0:32:03 > 0:32:06the highest British military award for gallantry
0:32:06 > 0:32:08will, today, be honoured by his home town.
0:32:10 > 0:32:14Private William Kenealy received the Victoria Cross
0:32:14 > 0:32:17for exceptional bravery during World War I.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22Today, a memorial stone will be unveiled at Ashton library
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and the children's section will be named after him.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Council officer David Heyes is hopeful
0:32:31 > 0:32:33that everything will go according to plan.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38This is the big day, culmination of a lot of work and effort
0:32:38 > 0:32:41by lots of different departments and teams across the council.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44The sun's shining, everything's going OK
0:32:44 > 0:32:48and I'm quietly confident it's going to be a good turnout and a good day.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54Guests include members of Private Kenealy's regiment,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57the Lancashire Fusiliers,
0:32:57 > 0:32:59war veterans,
0:32:59 > 0:33:00local schoolchildren
0:33:00 > 0:33:04and the great-nephew who was named after him.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07It's something that should be done
0:33:07 > 0:33:11for all the people that have come to this ceremony.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14And for all the children who's going to go in the library
0:33:14 > 0:33:18and see his name, it's fitting. It's fitting for him.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Private Kenealy's 84-year-old nephew Frank is wearing
0:33:22 > 0:33:24his uncle's war medals.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Almost time. Sun's shining. I'm pleased.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33The memorial ceremony is about to begin.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Good morning, everybody.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39Today is a very special day to remember
0:33:39 > 0:33:41and honour a truly remarkable man,
0:33:41 > 0:33:47a brave man from Ashton, Private William Kenealy VC.
0:33:50 > 0:33:55The mayor and great-nephew William unveil the memorial.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57APPLAUSE
0:34:05 > 0:34:07The second part of the ceremony
0:34:07 > 0:34:10is the naming of the children's library.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18I now officially rename the children's library
0:34:18 > 0:34:22William Kenealy VC Children's Library.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:34:29 > 0:34:34Today, in their own words, local schoolchildren paid tribute
0:34:34 > 0:34:38to the men who sacrificed so much in World War I.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42"I have made lots of friends. Sadly, most have been killed."
0:34:44 > 0:34:49"It is terrifying. Nothing but dead bodies surround me.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51"I would do anything to come back home."
0:34:51 > 0:34:55"I have been living in a damp, cramped, smelly trench
0:34:55 > 0:34:59"with bombs constantly exploding around me."
0:34:59 > 0:35:02"PS. Yesterday, you wouldn't believe this.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05"We all played a game of football.
0:35:05 > 0:35:10"To be honest, the Germans weren't as bad as I expected."
0:35:10 > 0:35:13APPLAUSE
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
0:35:26 > 0:35:33'For the council to appreciate what he's done is just fantastic.'
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- We will remember them. - ALL:- We will remember them.
0:35:37 > 0:35:39He should be recognised for what he did.
0:35:41 > 0:35:45It's been a memorable day for council officer David Heyes
0:35:45 > 0:35:47and the family of Private Kenealy,
0:35:47 > 0:35:53the local war hero who finally got the homecoming he never had.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57I'm sure William, himself, would be pleased. It's really lovely.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59We've had a belting day.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14Wigan resident Lynn McSpirit called the council about rats in the attic.
0:36:16 > 0:36:21We're hoping we can get the situation finally sorted out
0:36:21 > 0:36:23and get rid of them.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Drains expert Tommy Robinson found a problem
0:36:25 > 0:36:28with the sewage pipe next door.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32A slipped joint has given the rats a way into both bungalows.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Any little moggy can get up there, start digging to go round...
0:36:40 > 0:36:42..and make its way into the bathroom area.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49Today, Tommy's back to, hopefully, fix the problem, once and for all.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53It's easy. You just put new paths in, straight to the manhole,
0:36:53 > 0:36:57then the old existing drains then just get capped off,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00filled in with concrete, so there's no way the rats
0:37:00 > 0:37:03are going to ever go up that connection again.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09It's a big day for Lynn, who's been putting up with the rats for months.
0:37:09 > 0:37:11Have to wait and see what happens, won't we?
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Fingers crossed.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18There's some serious kit in the back of Tommy's van
0:37:18 > 0:37:24and it all takes a battering in the never-ending battle against pests.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26I've brought my brush.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29I've had that for 18 years.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34A broken brush is the least of Tommy's worries.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36I've got my best socks on and all.
0:37:36 > 0:37:41Next door's toilet needs to be plumbed back into the main sewer.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48Hello!
0:37:49 > 0:37:52At the moment, cos I've got the toilet off,
0:37:52 > 0:37:56I've got horrendous smells coming back from the foul drain,
0:37:56 > 0:38:00so the quicker I get this done, the better,
0:38:00 > 0:38:04because it's getting very putrid at the moment.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Back in the fresh air, Tommy digs a new access gully
0:38:12 > 0:38:15to link the toilet back to the main sewer.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21Sometimes, whilst digging, I do come across rats.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25Um, quite often, I come across the nest.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29The mother will then leave the nest and leave the young ones behind.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34So, once I come across them, I just dispose of them...gently.
0:38:39 > 0:38:40I'll go with that.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43# Whoa, whoa, yeah... #
0:38:43 > 0:38:46In less than an afternoon, Tommy creates
0:38:46 > 0:38:48a whole new drainage system...
0:38:48 > 0:38:50# There's a rat in the kitchen What am I gonna do?
0:38:50 > 0:38:55- # There's a rat in the kitchen... # - ..with no rodent-sized gaps.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58# That's what I'm gonna do I'm gonna fix that rat... #
0:38:58 > 0:39:01# Dur, da-da, da. #
0:39:01 > 0:39:05All that's left to do now is to cap off the old drain.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09I'm just going to fill it up with concrete, literally.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15So, when a rat comes now, there's nowhere to go.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19They'll never go up this path again.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22It's not pretty below ground, but above ground is looking good.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24If you do it to a good standard,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26you're not going to get any complaints, are you?
0:39:30 > 0:39:33No leaks here. Happy.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38One new drainage system left tidy, watertight and rat-proof.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42It's time to give Lynn the good news.
0:39:42 > 0:39:43- Hello, dear.- Hiya.
0:39:43 > 0:39:47It's finished now. Hopefully, that's the end of the rats.
0:39:47 > 0:39:52- Everything will be hunky-dory. No more complaints.- Good. See you.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55- I'll see you. Tommy. Good job. - Ta-ra.
0:39:58 > 0:40:05It will be really nice to have a peaceful...quiet bungalow
0:40:05 > 0:40:09with no scurrying feet across the ceiling.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15It's nice when you get people like this appreciating what you're doing.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Job well done, yeah. Happy.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38Highways inspector Alan Evans is dealing with a large hole
0:40:38 > 0:40:40that's opened up down an alleyway.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Getting larger and larger,
0:40:44 > 0:40:47so I just want to know when the lads are coming down to sort it out.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Council workers were called in to investigate.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56Once they dug down,
0:40:56 > 0:41:00they realised that the drain from the properties had broke.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04Mending the drain became the responsibility
0:41:04 > 0:41:07of the local water company.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14Today, Alan's returning to the site to see if the work's been done.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18The job's been completed
0:41:18 > 0:41:21by United Utilities, reinstated to a good standard.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26Jim Farrimond is the local resident who called the council for help.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- So, are you satisfied with it? - I'm quite satisfied.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33- After the way it started off where it kept eating everything...- Yeah.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37Small hole, vanished, your man came, filled it in,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39- larger hole, vanished.- Yep.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Well, after the second time, that's why I arranged to have the dig-down.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46- All's well that ends well.- Al's well that ends well.- This is beautiful.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50- So, everything OK?- Thanks for everything.- Thanks very much.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- Good job done.- Thanks very much. See you then. Bye now.- Cheerio.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55One hole mended, one happy resident.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01But around every corner, there will always be more potholes
0:42:01 > 0:42:04and more trip hazards for Alan to investigate.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Like their colleges nationwide, these council officers are battling
0:42:17 > 0:42:22to make the borough a cleaner, safer, better place to live...
0:42:22 > 0:42:23Going down.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26..going down under to get rid of rats
0:42:26 > 0:42:28that gave Lynn sleepless nights...
0:42:28 > 0:42:32It will be heaven to have some peace and quiet from them.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37..helping takeaway manager May Yu sort her rubbish problem out...
0:42:37 > 0:42:40- And then Monday, phew, it's gone. - Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45..and filling up the hole that kept getting bigger near to Jim's home.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- The job's gone smoothly, like it should do.- Like it should do.- Yeah.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52- I wish all jobs did.- With your planning.- With MY planning.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54- That's it.- That's it, you see.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58They stepped in to help residents when they called the council.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01They might be an old woman, they might be elderly,
0:43:01 > 0:43:02they might be in a wheelchair.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05If you can get something sorted out for them, it's great.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08You feel as though you've done something proper.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10You need a tick on you.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14- It'll be the only one I've got. - Oh, yeah, yeah.