The Parish Council has received an anonymous email raising concerns about litter and barking dogs within the village.
We welcome residents contacting the Parish Council about genuine concerns affecting our community, and we will always try to assist where an issue falls within our remit or direct residents to the appropriate authority where it does not.
However, concerns must be raised respectfully and constructively. An anonymous email ending with “Do something about this before we act” is not an appropriate way to communicate with the Council, particularly when it is unclear what is meant by that statement.
This is also of particular concern because anonymous letters have previously been sent directly to residents, threatening them with action and giving the impression that they were sent on behalf of, or with the authority of, the Parish Council. They were not.
I therefore want to make this absolutely clear: the Parish Council does not send anonymous letters to residents, nor does it authorise individuals to issue warnings or threats to residents on its behalf. If anyone receives correspondence claiming or implying that it is from the Parish Council and is unsure whether it is genuine, please contact me as Parish Clerk to verify it.
To whoever is responsible for sending these letters and anonymous messages: please stop. This has gone beyond simply raising concerns and is becoming ridiculous. If you have a genuine issue, raise it through the proper channels and allow it to be dealt with appropriately. Sending anonymous correspondence, threatening residents or purporting to act on behalf of the Parish Council is completely unacceptable.
Going forward, anonymous complaints of this nature will not be entered into correspondence or pursued by the Parish Council. If you wish the Council to consider a complaint, please provide your name and contact details. These details will be handled appropriately and will not automatically be disclosed to the person who is the subject of the complaint.
This does not mean that the issues raised are unimportant. Litter is an issue in parts of the village, and persistent dog barking can cause considerable disturbance. There are, however, appropriate ways of reporting and dealing with both.
We all want our village to be a pleasant place to live. Please raise genuine concerns with us properly rather than taking matters into your own hands.
Thank you.
Parish Clerk