Henleaze,
Bishopston and Redland Street Scene Volunteer groups
These groups still exist, but are no longer quite as active as they have been. They now ask Neighbourhood Watches to encourage residents to remove graffiti tags from their own properties as quickly as possible or, if they need help, to request the council to remove the graffiti. There is very little graffiti tagging in our area, but every now and again new youngsters can cause a problem. The quicker graffiti tags are removed, the more it discourages them!
Below is the Environmental Volunteer Guide (September 2011) which is due to be updated later in the year (2012).
Below is the Environmental Volunteer Guide (September 2011) which is due to be updated later in the year (2012).
Working together to improve our environment
- Could you help by becoming an Environmental Volunteer?
This is a community-minded volunteer who wants to improve the environmental quality of their neighbourhood. Environmental volunteers can act as the extended eyes and ears of local service providers and so speed up the process of resolving environmental and street cleanliness issues.
An Environmental Volunteer keeps an eye on one or two streets in an area or a Neighbourhood Watch. It could be where they live, work or walk regularly. They report environmental issues, such as litter, graffiti and fly tipping, to the council.
By volunteering as an Environmental Volunteer you can do as much or as little time as you wish. This is a great way to make your own personal contribution to a cleaner, safer and greener neighbourhood. You can also contribute by encouraging friends, family and neighbours to recycle more and maybe helping to organise events such as clean-ups or walkabouts. You can raise unresolved or other environmental issues at Neighbourhood Forum meetings.
‘How to report’ guide
For all waste and street maintenance
Call Bristol City Council (BCC) on 0117 9222 100 or report online via the BCC website: www.bristol.gov.uk
Report issues such as:
▪ Recycling – food and garden waste
▪ General rubbish and bulky waste collections including black boxes
▪ Highways maintenance – road, pavement and drains
▪ Street lighting
▪ Graffiti, fly tipping and abandoned vehicles
▪ Drug and sex litter.
For pest control, pollution, public safety & food safety
Call BCC 0117 9222 500 or report online via the BCC website: www.bristol.gov.uk
Report issues such as:
▪ Pest and dog warden
▪ Noise pollution
▪ Incidents of anti-social behaviour
▪ Risks to public health safety, including food matters
BCC lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm
When you report problems, if you ask for a reference number it is easier to locate the report later if necessary. If a reported problem is unresolved in a reasonable time, e.g. two weeks for issues like fly tipping waste and graffiti, you could contact customer services for a progress report. You can raise unresolved or other environmental issues at Neighbourhood Forum meetings.
Additional information on issues commonly reported:
Abandoned or burnt out vehicles
When reporting an abandoned vehicle try to note the vehicle make, model and registration, exact location, if it’s causing a hazard and how long it’s been abandoned (if known). Do not touch the vehicle as it may have been involved in a crime (touching it may destroy evidence such as fingerprints).
Animal faeces and stray dogs
Bristol City Council employs two full time dog wardens who are happy to offer advice on: lost and found dogs, identification, fouling, barking, and control of dogs.
Broken street lighting
When reporting faulty or damaged street lighting it is important to give the street light number. The number is on the light column about five to six feet off the ground facing the road. If the correct information is given, faults will usually be repaired within five working days.
Clinical Waste Collection
Bristol City Council offers a free, separate collection for people who produce sharps, or infectious clinical waste at home. A health practitioner, acting on the customers’ behalf, must request this service. All non-infectious waste can be presented in the customers black wheeled bin, with their residual waste.
Damaged or missing street/traffic signs
The City Council is responsible for the maintenance of: National Direction Signs, Local Direction Signs, Traffic Regulation Signs, Car Park Information Signs, and Public Footpath Signs etc. Theft and vandalism of traffic signs can lead to serious accidents; examples are removal or reversal of a ‘No Entry’ sign, or covering a ‘Keep Left’ bollard with personal greetings banners or advertising posters. Please report any instances.
Damaged street furniture
Bristol City Council is responsible for the maintenance of: road markings and lines, pedestrian guardrails and barriers, crash barriers, amenity bench seats, some raised planting tubs, bowls and containers, temporary cones, bollards and barriers. Report faults, theft or vandalism.
Drugs and sex litter
There are hazards associated with handling syringes or discarded condoms and, if discovered, the Sex and Drug Litter Rapid clean-up team should be contacted immediately to have them safely removed and disposed of from all open air areas (including gardens or private land). You are advised NOT to pick up syringes or sex litter, unless an immediate danger is posed to you or other residents (e.g. if it’s where children are playing). If you decide it is necessary to pick up a syringe, the safest way is to wear protective gloves and place it (needle first) into a bottle with a lid on. Syringes found on educational premises (schools, nurseries etc.) during working hours should be reported immediately to the premises directly, where there will be trained staff to deal with it.
Graffiti
The removal of graffiti from domestic or commercial premises is subject to the owner signing an indemnity form. It speeds up the process if you download from the Council website an indemnity form and for the owner to sign and return it: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/graffiti-reporting-and-removal. When you report graffiti please say if an indemnity form has been signed and returned.
Remember to ask for a reference number so if the work is not done in about two weeks it is easier chase it up. See end for further information about graffiti on Bus shelters, Post boxes and Pay telephones.
Fly tipping
If you see someone fly tipping please report it giving the following information:
• what was tipped
• the day, date and time you saw the tipping
• what you saw e.g. how many people
• what they looked like - include the registration, make and model of any vehicle involved
REMEMBER – There is no need to challenge anyone – NEVER put yourself at risk!
Household waste collection and domestic bins
For queries regarding domestic refuse collection, including lost, stolen, or damaged bins. If you or a neighbour has trouble carrying your refuse to the front of your property due to age or infirmity, please enquire about the Assisted Collection Service.
Missing or defaced street nameplates
Theft and vandalism of street nameplates can lead to serious delays in the response to 999 calls by the emergency services. Please report all damaged or missing road signs, including street nameplates.
Obstructions on the Highway
Street works, road works, skips, scaffolds, hoardings, advertising boards and building materials that block the pavement are all considered to be causing an obstruction to pedestrians.
If you encounter any of the following problems, please report it:
• A skip or scaffolding obstructing the pavement.
• No barrier around road works or building work where it is affecting pedestrian safety.
• Building materials blocking the pavement.
• An advertising board is blocking the pavement.
Removal of bulky items, and recycling
Up to 3 items cost £15.00 but may be free for people receiving benefits. Items can also be disposed of at the Household Waste Recycling sites located at Folly Lane, (off Days Road) St Philip’s and Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth.
These sites are provided for the receipt of domestic waste only and not commercial waste. A height restriction of 2.4m (17ft 1in) is in place on entering and leaving sites.
Containers are provided to recycle garden waste, scrap metal, car batteries, cardboard, DIY building rubble, furniture and electrical appliances, timber and engine oil.
Recycling Banks are also provided for paper, textiles and shoes, food and drink cans, glass bottles and jars, books and plastic bottles.
Vegetation Overhanging the Public Highway
The Council are concerned for the safety and convenience of the public, particularly pram, and wheelchair users, the disabled, the partially sighted and the blind. Please report obstructing vegetation. This information is passed to a Highway Enforcement Officer who will inspect and if required send a letter to the owner or occupiers to cut it back.
Information and advice relating to other issues and services:
Bus Shelters
Adshell are responsible for the maintenance of bus shelters (time tables are the responsibility of Bristol City Council. Please report all maintenance issues, including graffiti and smashed windowpanes directly to Adshell on 0800 7313699. Each bus shelter has a unique number painted along the top of the shelter, please quote number when reporting.
Graffiti on Post Boxes
The Royal Mail removes graffiti on post boxes. To report either call: 08457 740 740 or go online: www.royalmail.com. Get in touch using the ‘Report a problem’ form to tell them about damage or graffiti to a Post box.
BT Pay phones
To report damage, including graffiti, call 0800 661 610 and give them the telephone number of the box which serves as the reference number.
This is not intended to be a complete guide to Bristol City Council’s services. For more information please refer to BCC website www.bristol.gov.uk or phone the main switchboard on 0117 922 2000.