A pothole, overflowing litter bin or broken street light might quickly attract attention on social media, but posting a photograph or leaving a comment does not officially report the problem to the organisation responsible for fixing it.
Comments on A Little Bit of Stone, community groups and council social media pages can help make other residents aware of an issue. However, they should not be treated as an official report.
Using the correct reporting channel means the problem can be recorded, sent to the right team and, in many cases, given a reference number so its progress can be checked.
Here is where to report some of the problems residents commonly encounter around Stone.
Potholes, pavements and road problems
Staffordshire County Council is responsible for most public roads and pavements in Stone.
Residents can report a pothole directly through the council’s online map.
Other damage to roads, kerbs, pavements and cycleways can be submitted through the road and pavement damage form.
The council’s main highways reporting service also includes options for blocked drains and gullies, flooding, damaged signs, faded road markings, roadworks and overgrown vegetation affecting the highway.
Reports can be plotted on an online map, helping the highways team identify the precise location. Residents can also see whether some problems have already been reported.
For non urgent problems, use the online reporting service or the MyStaffs app.
Anyone unable to use the online service can call 0300 111 8000 for a highways emergency, but this option should only be used for urgent problems presenting an immediate risk.
Broken street lights and traffic signals
Faulty street lights and illuminated signs can be submitted through Staffordshire County Council’s street lighting reporting service.
The service includes an online map showing individual street lights, allowing residents to select the affected unit where possible.
Problems with traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, road signs and road markings can be reported using the separate signals, signs and road markings form.
Damage presenting an immediate danger should be reported as a highways emergency.
Fly tipping, litter and dog fouling
Stafford Borough Council deals with fly tipping, litter, graffiti, fly posting, dog fouling and abandoned vehicles around Stone.
Residents can report problems using the following forms:
Report street litter, graffiti or a street cleansing problem
The council’s full list of Streetscene reporting forms also covers bus shelters, street furniture, grounds maintenance and damaged street name plates.
Photographs, videos and information about the location can be added to reports.
Where somebody is seen dumping waste from a vehicle, details such as the registration number, vehicle description, location, date and time can be particularly useful. The council may need a signed witness statement before it can use registered keeper information.
Fly tipping should not be touched or searched through, particularly if it could contain sharp objects, chemicals or other hazardous material.
Missed bins and food waste collections
Residents should first check that their bin, blue bag or food waste caddy was placed at the property boundary by 7am on the correct collection day.
The container should not be excessively heavy, contain unsuitable items or have its lid left open.
A missed green, blue or brown bin, or blue bag, can be reported using Stafford Borough Council’s missed bin collection form.
There is a separate form to report a missed food waste collection.
Residents can also call the council’s Waste Management team on 01785 619402.
Food waste may be collected by a different vehicle and at a different time from other household waste, so residents should leave the caddy out until the collection day has finished.
Noise, smoke and other nuisances
Ongoing noise, smoke, fumes, dust, odours, artificial light and some other problems affecting neighbouring properties can be reported to Stafford Borough Council’s Environmental Health team.
Residents can use the council’s online environmental health form, email ehtechsupport@staffordbc.gov.uk or call 01785 619402.
More information about the types of problems the council may be able to investigate is available through its statutory nuisance guidance.
The council may ask for details of when the problem happens, how long it lasts and how residents are being affected. In some cases, residents may be asked to keep a written record of repeated incidents.
A one off disagreement between neighbours will not necessarily amount to a statutory nuisance.
Antisocial behaviour and crime
Antisocial behaviour can include persistent rowdy or abusive behaviour, street drinking, threatening behaviour, drug activity and serious neighbourhood disturbances.
Incidents can be reported online to Staffordshire Police or by calling 101.
Non emergency crimes can also be submitted through the police’s online crime reporting service.
Call 999 when a crime is taking place, somebody is in immediate danger or an urgent police response is required.
Residents affected by repeated antisocial behaviour may be able to request an antisocial behaviour case review if they have previously reported the problem and feel that insufficient action has been taken.
Police social media accounts should not be used to report crimes or incidents, as they are not monitored continuously.
Problems in parks and play areas
Stafford Borough Council manages a number of parks, pitches and play areas around Stone, including Westbridge Park, Tilling Drive, Walton Common and Whitemill Lane.
Grounds maintenance problems, including grass cutting and some problems involving council managed trees and hedges, can be submitted through the council’s grounds maintenance form.
Problems involving damaged or unsafe equipment at a borough council owned play area should be reported by calling 01785 619000 or emailing info@staffordbc.gov.uk.
It helps to give the name of the park, the location of the equipment and a clear description of the damage.
Public footpaths and bridleways
Obstructed, damaged or overgrown public rights of way can be reported to Staffordshire County Council.
Its Public Rights of Way map allows residents to find a route and report problems involving path surfaces, broken gates, damaged signs, obstructions or paths which have been ploughed or planted over.
Users must log in before selecting the option to report an issue.
Further details are available through the county council’s footpath reporting guidance.
This reporting route is for recorded public footpaths and bridleways. Problems with ordinary roadside pavements should be reported through the highways service instead.
Water leaks and sewer problems
Leaks from clean water pipes and problems involving the public sewer network should be reported to Severn Trent rather than either council.
Residents can report a water leak online or call Severn Trent’s 24 hour emergency number on 0800 783 4444.
Advice about responsibility for private drains and public sewers, along with options for reporting a problem, is available through Severn Trent’s blocked drains guidance.
Blocked highway drains and gullies should be reported to Staffordshire County Council through its highways service.
Pollution affecting rivers, canals or land
Pollution affecting a river, canal, lake, stream or other watercourse can be reported online to the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency’s 24 hour incident hotline is also available on 0800 80 70 60.
This route can be used for incidents involving sewage, oil, chemicals, dead or distressed fish and unusual changes in the appearance, smell or flow of water.
Fly tipping and ordinary street litter should normally be reported to Stafford Borough Council instead.
Dangerous buildings
A building or structure which appears to present a danger to the public should be reported to the shared Building Control service operated by Stafford Borough Council and Cannock Chase Council.
Residents should call 01785 619340 to arrange for a potentially dangerous structure in Stafford Borough to be inspected.
The service has published guidance about dangerous structures, including the types of problems it can investigate.
A building must pose a potential danger to the public. A property which is simply run down or poorly maintained will not necessarily be classed as a dangerous structure.
Call 999 where there is an immediate threat to life, such as a collapse taking place or somebody being trapped.
Help the right team find the problem
Whichever service is responsible, a useful report should include the precise location, a clear description, when the problem was seen and photographs where it is safe and appropriate to take them.
Include a nearby house number, street name, landmark or map location where possible. Keep any confirmation email or reference number so the report can be followed up later.
Making an official report does not guarantee that every problem will be fixed immediately. It does mean the responsible organisation has a record of it and can assess it against its responsibilities and priorities.
Posting about a problem on social media can help raise awareness, but it should not replace reporting it through the official channel.
What have we missed?
Responsibilities between councils, utility companies, the police and other organisations are not always obvious.
Have you spotted a problem around Stone and are unsure who should deal with it?
Let us know through the A Little Bit of Stone contact page by choosing “I want to send you some news”.
Please remember that contacting ALBOS does not officially report the problem. We may be able to point residents towards the correct service, while recurring issues affecting the wider community could also help inform our local reporting.
