Environmental Health and Protection

We provide a diverse range of reactive and proactive services to protect and improve the quality of life, health and environment for residents across the district.

Environmental Health has both an enforcement and advisory role in the areas of food, occupational safety, noise, air quality, pollution control, environmental protection, pest and dog control. We are also involved as partners in the street scene, licensing and antisocial behaviour functions.

The long term vision of the service is to ensure that through a process of advice, education and enforcement, the food we eat and the environments we live, work and resort to, are safe and without risks to health.

In the event of legal action becoming necessary we seek to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with the law, in a fair, even-handed and proportionate manner.

The section is divided into two teams, one team covers Commercial Services, the other deals with the Environmental Protection issues.

The Environmental Protection Team deals with issues including:

• Smoke free Regulations
• Nuisance complaints, eg bonfires and noise
• Animal control and fouling
• Construction and demolition complaints 
• Nuisance Pests
• High Hedges Complaints
• Human and Animal diseases
• Drought,  flooding and Land drainage
  
• Safety Advisory Group
• Licensing Consultation
• Planning Consultation
• Stray Dogs
• Health and Safety - Fireworks
• Air Quality
• Contaminated Land Issues
• Permitted Processes
• Light Nuisance

The Environmental Protection Team is responsible for pollution and public health related services associated with general nuisance, pest control and pollution to land, air and water. The team is made up of a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds able to respond appropriately to a variety of enquiries generated by residents, visitors or organisations concerned with local environmental issues.

Our proactive role means that we work with colleagues across the authority as well as partner organisations, consultants and external agencies and business, to address issues of concern to the environment or health of our residents. In addition to responding to complaints our remit includes monitoring and control of emissions to the atmosphere and noise from industry, commerce and private dwellings as well as advising the public and industry on establishing good environmental practices.

If you need further information on any of these areas of work officers will be pleased to speak to you. Sometimes noise complaints require a site visit and on a few occasions statutory action and/or prosecution of the person causing the problem is required. By phoning us on 01895 837264 we will be able to advise you on a particular case and maybe avoid difficulty later.

The Commercial Services Team deals with issues including

• Food Production and Quality
• Health & safety at work 
• Infectious disease control  
• Monitoring of private water supplies

Officers carry out regular inspections of food premises to ensure that production and sale complies with the law. They also ensure proprietors are aware of statutory requirements to help them maintain a safe environment for residents and those supplied from the district.

• If you buy foodstuffs that do not comply with legal requirements or have any concerns about any of these areas of work please call us to discuss the problem and help us to assess if a visit is required.
  If necessary, we are able to provide telephone advice or send out literature to assist you.

Outside office hours:
Environmental Health complaints and enquiries can be sent to: Environment@southbucks.gov.uk or reported to the authorities out of hours contact number 07768 502183 for action the next working day. Messages may also be left on the general number 01895 837333.

• FAQ's