On my road here on Lowedges, a street light had been out since Monday 4th February. Not long, I grant you, but in the early hours of Monday 11th February, I discovered this website: FixMyStreet (http://www.fixmystreet.com/)

I wasn't aware of it before, but it's a national thing, where you enter your postcode, then you can see if someone has reported the problem in your area to the site. If not, you can report the problem and they forward your report on to the appropriate organisation in your area. In my case, it was asking Street Force to fix a street light.

I made the report in the early hours of Monday morning, and just before 9pm that evening, a van with cherry-picker turned up, and within minutes, the light was fixed!

I posted an update on the FixMyStreet site, thanking them for a swift response, then when I received an EM from Street Force themselves, I replied and thanked them directly.

So.....here I am, thanking Street Force so that other Sheffielders can see that sometimes they do a brilliant job, despite the negative press they get regarding our pothole blighted city.

I reported an RTA outside our house having left debris on the road (phoned council direct) and the street sweeper was already there before I'd hung up the phone!

ive had 2 sewage leaks in my cellar since april last year.

the current leak, whilst stopped, cannot be cleaned up as there is a further leak in the cellar...but it appears to be either surface/ground water or a new spring.

i called streetforce on 5/02/08 to clear the drains on our road because they were so blocked they couldnt even be seen! their response was that they couldnt tell me when they would be cleaned. :mad:

they still hadnt been by last night, so i called my local councillors- one of whom called me back and said she would look into it.

but, having seen this....ive reported it again, it certainly cant hurt!!

thank you! :)

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I've used Fixmystreet on many occasions and always found the council response to be good.Only a few minutes ago i had a call from Environmental Services regarding Flytipping.A very good service.

FixMyStreet also did FaxYourMp and do WriteToThem & TheyWorkForYou. All worth a look: http://www.mysociety.org/projects

well i wrote to them again on the 12th and included that fact that i had written to one of my councillors about the matter too.

the response cam back today:

Dear Councillor Bragg

Thank you for your email dated 13 February 2008 regarding the above.

Street Force had already been made aware of the problem outside XXX directly by Mrs Cooke. In response to this report, Street Force attended site on 12 February 2008 but were unable to access the gully due to parked cars. Further attempts to clear this gully and the one outside 20 will be made within the next 20 working days.

Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and I trust the above information answers your enquiry.

Regards

John Charlton
Director of Street Force

firstly, why does it take 15 days to reply to an email?

second, what happens if the road isnt clear within the next 20 days (i dont actually have a car so i know im not preventing this from beign done).

third, does this 20 days start as of today or when the first attempt was made.

im afraid i dont class either the activity nor the response as prompt or satisfactory. :mad:


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