The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister http://www.odpm.gov.uk/ has published a public information booklet “Preparing for Emergencies”, providing all households with practical advice.

In the case of major emergencies or disasters you should telephone 999 and ask for the appropriate emergency service.

The response to any natural disaster or an emergency will be actioned by one of the emergency services. The daytime contact numbers are:

• Lincolnshire Police 01522 532222
• Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue 01522 582222 
• Lincolnshire Ambulance Service 0845 045 0422

The Lincolnshire Civil Protection Unit (01522 582220) is responsible for co-ordinating the response to emergencies across Lincolnshire.

The Environment Agency is responsible for issuing flood warnings. Their website contains useful information in the event of a flood happening. Their hotline contact number is 0845 988 1188.

East Lindsey District Council’s role is to maintain services and provide whatever assistance it can to local residents to help relieve distress and ensure that essential services and supplies are available.

The Council’s emergency telephone numbers for use outside office hours are listed in the BT Directory. These numbers should be used for minor emergencies that are not immediately life threatening.

East Lindsey District Council’s Environmental Services Department deals with a wide range of emergency situations, such as incidents involving health and safety issues, outbreaks of food poisoning and outbreaks of pollution.

Details of the response procedure for such incidents are available from the Council’s Customer Service Team on (01507) 601111, or outside office hours on the numbers listed in the BT directory.

It should be noted that no out of hours response is available in respect of ‘non-emergency’ environmental issues (i.e. noise, rodents, pests etc).

Anyone made homeless because of an emergency has a priority need for accommodation, regardless of their personal circumstances. If this happens the Council will endeavour to make temporary accommodation available, however, this may not arise if other suitable accommodation is available.

To be an emergency, the property must be lost suddenly, rather than over a period of days or weeks. This would apply in circumstances where there is a fire, a flood or other disaster and the occupiers have to be removed.

Homelessness that results from an unlawful eviction does not fall within this emergency category.

For further details about homelessness contact the Homelessness Section at East Lindsey District Council.

Dangerous Structure Legislation

Under the Building Act 1984, East Lindsey District Council has to ensure that any dangerous structures within the district are removed promptly. This may involve dealing with dangers such as loose slates, unstable yard walls, broken glazing and more unusually, damage from explosion and storm damage. The Council’s Building Control Section enforces this legislation.

Once a danger has been reported an officer will visit and if there is an immediate danger, the surrounding area will be cordoned off. The owner will be contacted and issued a notice under Section 78 of the Building Act 1984, requiring urgent action to be taken. If the owner does not comply with the order within a reasonable time, the Council can have the work carried out and recover the costs from the owner at a later date.

In some circumstances the danger may not pose an immediate threat to the public but there may be a need for the danger to be removed in the short to medium term. Under section 77 of the Building Act 1984 the Council can apply to the magistrates courts for an order to be served on the owner of a building or structure to have the danger removed.

Through this legislation, the Council can only request that enough work be carried out to remove the danger. It cannot ask for work to be reinstated or additional structures to be erected.

Should you require an officer to visit a structure that gives you cause for concern please ring Customer Services on 01507 601111 during the day, out of hours 01522 684730. We will endeavour to visit the structure within 30 minutes during normal working hours or within one hour at other times.

A duty roster is in operation in the district 24 hours a day 365 days per year, manned by the District’s building control staff. This service is provided free of charge at the point of delivery.

Please note that building control only deals with the physical nature and in some circumstances you will still need to gain development control approval for any work being carried out.