FAQ — “who do I contact about…?”
The questions people ask most often, with a straight answer and a link to the full entry. If yours isn't here, search the directory.
Coming in phase 2: a smart Q&A assistant. We're planning a question box that answers in plain English — but strictly from this site's verified content, always citing the source and the date. It is not live yet, and we won't ship an assistant that makes things up. For now, these hand-written answers and the directory are the way in.
My bin wasn’t collected — who do I tell?
Shropshire Council runs bin collections. Report a missed collection within two working days of your collection day. It is not the Town Council.
There’s a pothole on my road. Council or someone else?
Local roads are Shropshire Council (highways) — report via their FixMyStreet system. The M54 and other trunk roads are National Highways instead.
A streetlight is out. Is that the Town Council or Shropshire Council?
It depends on the light. Most are Shropshire Council’s, but Shifnal Town Council owns 300+ of them. Check the Town Council’s published list/map first; if it’s not on it, report it to Shropshire Council.
Someone has fly-tipped rubbish. Who clears it?
Shropshire Council clears fly-tipping on public land and investigates it. Fly-tipping on private land is the landowner’s responsibility.
I want to object to a planning application. Who decides it?
Shropshire Council decides planning applications and takes public comments. Shifnal Town Council is a consultee — it can comment and object, but it does not make the decision.
There’s anti-social behaviour / a non-emergency crime.
That’s West Mercia Police. Use 101 or online reporting for non-emergencies, and 999 if it’s an emergency or a crime in progress.
My water pressure is low / there’s a leak in the street.
Water supply and mains leaks are Severn Trent, not the council. Their Leakline is 0800 783 4444.
The power’s gone off — who do I call?
Call 105 free from any phone to report a power cut. It routes to the local network operator (National Grid Electricity Distribution) by postcode. This is separate from your energy supplier/billing.
I can smell gas. What do I do?
Treat it as an emergency. Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 (free, 24/7), open doors and windows, turn off the gas at the meter, and avoid electrical switches and naked flames.
My street/garden is flooding — who handles that?
It depends on the source. Surface-water and ordinary-watercourse flooding is Shropshire Council (Lead Local Flood Authority); flooding from a main river is the Environment Agency (Floodline 0345 988 1188); sewer flooding is Severn Trent.
I need to complain about an NHS service.
Complaints about NHS-funded services go via the NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICB / PALS team. For urgent (non-emergency) health help use NHS 111; call 999 in a medical emergency.