Environmental health

Environmental health is concerned with the health and wellbeing of individuals, organisations and communities through the safety of the places where we live, work and relax and the safety of the food we eat.

The four main core areas of environmental health are, in no particular order:

Pollution and public health
Food safety
Housing
Health and safety

Each local authority has a statutory responsibility to enforce environmental health legislation and officers work closely with other agencies such as the police, Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to achieve compliance. We provide a blend of enforcement through powers under Acts of Parliament and many other statutes - some mandatory, some discretionary - with advice and education for individuals, businesses and schools, etc.

Local authorities can organise their environmental health functions so they are carried out across a number of teams and service areas. At Warrington Borough Council, heath, safety and food safety are dealt with by one team within trading standards. Public health and pollution are dealt with by environmental health and protection, and housing is dealt with by private sector housing.

Officers are able to offer advice and investigate complaints across a range of problems such as noisy neighbours, light pollution, unfit food, energy efficiency, stray dogs, poor housing, smoking shelters, animal health and welfare, odours and vermin, etc.

Contact us

To speak to an officer please call 01925 442588 or email us: environmental.health@warrington.gov.uk

Or you can write to us at: Public Protection Service, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NH

If you have any comments, compliments or complaints, or would to find out more information on how you contact the council and ward councillors, click here.

Relevant policies can be found in our central policy documents section
All relevant legislation can be found in the central business section
Relevant application forms can be found in the online forms section
Information leaflets are available on wide range of subjects

If you are interested in a career in environmental health, we do provide placements on an unpaid basis. For more information and to apply, go to the environmental health trainee application form.

Private sector housing

Private sector housing are striving for everyone, both in social and private sector housing to have the opportunity of a decent home.

How are we doing this?

Tackling concentrations of poor housing - we look at areas of poorer housing within the borough and take the appropriate action to turn things around. To this end we have declared two renewal areas, one in Fairfield and more recently, one in Latchford.

Helping owners of poor quality housing – the new Housing Renewals Policy marks the progression away from a simple desire to assist homeowners to preserve their properties to a new focus on protecting the health, safety and welfare of vulnerable people and strategically effecting area renewal. Consequently we target assistance towards the vulnerable, including those who are in receipt of means-tested benefits, the elderly (of retirement age or above), the disabled, lone parent families with dependent children, low income families, and the chronically infirm.

Promoting a healthy private rented sector – we help good and well-intentioned landlords to raise the standards of their rented accommodation, encouraging self-regulation by accreditation schemes and limited licensing (HMOs - Houses in Multiple Occupation). We assist tenants with problems with housing conditions by applying the principles of good enforcement practice and pro-active inspection programmes for HMOs.

Provision of support and advice to those in housing need – we work corporately with colleagues in social services in order to assist people with disabilities by providing adaptations supported by Disabled Facilities Grant aid. We also help the vulnerable by providing safe and secure assistance to complete urgent and vital repairs and minor adaptations to protect against serious hazards, as classified using a government-derived housing health and safety rating system.

Home energy conservation – we are working with everyone within the borough to raise awareness of energy efficiency, and to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and to alleviate fuel poverty by implementing the council's affordable warmth strategy. The Eco Hut, located in Warrington Market, is open to visitors to give free and impartial domestic energy efficiency advice. Call 01925 657763 (This facility is only manned on a part time basis, so you are advised to call before you visit).

Environmental health and protection

Environmental health and protection consists of three sub teams: Environmental protection, environmental control and land and air quality.

Environmental protection

This team deals with complaints from members of the public regarding noisy neighbours; such as barking dogs, playing of loud music, DIY and entertainment noise. We also deal with complaints about bonfires, odours and high hedges. We give pre application advice on planning and licensing applications and act as consultees when the applications are made.

More information:

Noise - how to make a complaint

Bonfires - advice on what you can and cannot burn (opens as a .pdf)

Environmental control

This team deals with requests for service and complaints from members of the public about pest control, stray dogs, private drainage, filthy and verminous premises, nuisance accumulations and animal health and welfare. We also deal with farm inspection and transportation, animal movement licensing; animal welfare and performing animals and provide information and advice on animal health issues such as foot and mouth.

Land and air quality

This team carry out detailed studies of our environment, taking action to clean up land and improve air quality where necessary. We also help to protect our environment by regulating certain industrial sites, tackling vehicle emissions and advising on the regeneration of the town. We can also provide useful information on the status of our local environment. The team covers carbon emission reductions in Warrington and climate change issues.

Air quality

Climate change

Land contamination

Pollution prevention and control