Public Health

Blocked Sewers and Drains

Responsibility for the pipes that take waste away from your home depends on whether they are classed as a drain or a sewer.

In Oadby and Wigston, Severn Trent Water is responsible for the public and private sewers, and they can be contacted on 0800 783 4444.

Drains are the responsibility of the property owner. If you are a tenant, the landlord will be liable for faults with your drains. Unfortunately, if the drain is blocked as a result of your own actions then unblocking is your responsibility. For more information visit Severn Trent Water - Sewer Pipe Responsibility about sewer responsibilities, please visit the Severn Trent website.

Welfare Funerals

Most of us like to think that at the end of our lives we shall have a dignified funeral, arranged and attended by people who care for us. Occasionally, however, people die without relatives or next of kin to make these arrangements. The council provides a welfare funeral for anyone who dies or is found dead in its area and for whom it appears there are no suitable funeral arrangements being made. Councils are given this duty under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984. In Oadby and Wigston this service is delivered by Environmental Health Officers.

If you’re on a low income and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging, you could get a funeral payment. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

Filthy and Verminous Premises

Everybody has a different standard of cleanliness and Environmental Health Officers are not cleanliness police. We become involved if there is a risk to the health of the occupiers, or to neighbours, carers or visitors. We try to address the issue as sensitively and informally as possible but sometimes we have to use legal powers to remove any public health risk. Sometimes we involve other people that can help, such as housing officers or social workers.

Typical situations include:

• Large amounts of food waste
• Large amounts of human or animal waste
• Large amounts of animal fouling
• Blocked toilets
• Pest issues, often from a variety of rodent and insect pests

Reducing Ill Health

Oadby and Wigston Council promotes healthy lifestyles and takes an active role in the Health and Wellbeing Boards. We ensure issues relates to our residents are considered wherever we have a voice and where we have the biggest impact on reducing ill-health.

Our council has three priorities for improvements to public health:

• Diabetes is on the increase nationally but by eating more healthily and taking more exercise you can reduce the risks significantly.
• Dementia is a term used to describe various brain disorders that result in loss of brain function causing problems with memory, thinking, language and judgement. Please contact your local GP if you have any concerns.
• Drug and alcohol misuse ruins the lives of those with addiction and others around them. Alcohol is often behind domestic violence and other violent crime too. There is help for people who are ready to deal with their addiction.