Plans for free drain and sewer clearance are rejected

12/12/2007

PLANS to introduce a free drain and sewer clearance service for all residents in Berwick Borough have been rejected.

Berwick Borough Council's policy committee unanimously opposed the proposal at its meeting last Wednesday.

They had been recommended to approve the plan, which was drawn up following a request by Coun Brian Douglas, but baulked at the £36,400 annual cost of the service.

Coun Anthony Murray, ward member for Wooler, said: "I believe council tenants of long-standing should have this service available and we should be pushing for the new landlord to take it on board but I think it's wrong that it is available to everyone."

Council officers had acknowledged that it would difficult to assess the potential demand for the service but on the basis of previous experience and levels of inquiry estimated five requests for help per week.

It was planned to have the service provided by a contractor because the council did not have the staffing resources.

However, head of finance Charles Oakley warned: "Our standstill budget for delivering services means we have very little room to manoeuvre.

"We have about £30,000 funding available for growth so there is not a huge amount of money in the pot unless we find alternative savings or ways to reduce spending across the council."

The legal responsibility for drains and sewers is governed by a number of statutes and will often depend upon the precise circumstances of a particular case.

The legal responsibility is shared equally by all occupiers whose drains feed into the point where a blockage occurs, whether or not this people are directly affected.

This does not apply to public sewers, which are generally considered as main sewers and which are adopted by Northumbrian Water which is responsible for repair and maintenance.

Rob Marriner, the council's director of environment, explained: "When a blockage occurs in a drain or private sewer the occupiers affected will normally resolve the problem themselves or contact the borough council for assistance.

"This will require the attendance of officers to determine the location and nature of the problem and the legal responsibility for resolution.

"If those responsible cannot be persuaded to arrange for clearance and rectification of any defects, legal notices may be served on each of the responsible occupiers. Failure to comply with the notice allows the council to undertake the works in default and to recharge those responsible for costs incurred."

The full article contains 412 words and appears in n/a newspaper.Last Updated: 12 December 2007 11:30 AM

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