Who does what in Shifnal?
Shifnal is covered by several different organisations, and it isn't always obvious which one handles what. Here's the plain-English version. When you're ready to report something, the directory has the exact link for each service.
- Unitary — Shropshire Council
Shropshire Council — the big one
Shropshire Council is a unitary authority: since 2009 it has done the job that a county council and a district council used to split between them. That means most day-to-day services are theirs — bins and recycling, roads and potholes, most streetlights, fly-tipping, planning decisions, council tax, schools, libraries, social care, environmental health and more.
Most street-scene reports go through Shropshire Council's FixMyStreet system (potholes, streetlights, fly-tipping, dog fouling, graffiti, missed bins and more). General enquiries: 0345 678 9006.
- Town — Shifnal Town Council
Shifnal Town Council — the local tier
The Town Council is the most local layer of government, funded by a precept — a small part of your council tax bill. It looks after community and amenity things: allotments, the Town Council's parks and open spaces, Priorslee Road Cemetery, bus shelters, hanging baskets and planters, community grants — and, importantly, some of the town's streetlights.
The Town Council is a statutory consultee on planning — it can comment and object, but it does not decide applications. That's Shropshire Council.
- Police
West Mercia Police
Crime and anti-social behaviour. 999 in an emergency or if a crime is happening now; 101 or online reporting for non-emergencies.
- Utility
Utilities — water, power & gas
These are companies, not the council. Severn Trent for water supply, leaks and sewer flooding. National Grid Electricity Distribution for power cuts (call 105 free). The National Gas Emergency Service (Cadent network) for a smell of gas — 0800 111 999, free, 24/7.
- NHS
NHS
GPs, dentists, pharmacies and urgent care. Use NHS 111 when it's urgent but not life-threatening; 999 for a medical emergency. Complaints about NHS services go via the NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin ICB / PALS team.
- National
National bodies
Some things are run nationally: National Highways for the M54 and other trunk roads (local roads are Shropshire Council), the Environment Agency for main-river flooding and flood warnings, and Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service (call 999).
The confusing one: streetlights
Not every streetlight in Shifnal belongs to the same body. The majority are Shropshire Council's — but Shifnal Town Council owns and maintains over 300 lights around the town (its contractor is currently E.ON).
How to tell which is which, and who to tell:
- Check the Town Council's list first. Shifnal Town Council publishes a list and a map of the lights it owns on its Street Lighting page. If your light is on that list, email the Town Council at info@shifnaltowncouncil.gov.uk.
- If it's not on that list, it's almost certainly Shropshire Council's — report it via Shropshire Council's report-a-faulty-streetlight page.
- Not sure? Email the Town Council — they can tell you whether it's one of theirs and, if not, point you to Shropshire Council.
Another gotcha: the “fire station”
You may see “The Old Fire Station” listed under Shifnal Town Council. That's a historic building / community venue — it is not the fire service. For a fire or rescue emergency, always dial 999 (Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service). Don't try to reach the fire service via the Town Council.