Stop writing to us, it’s too stressful say council staff

DEALING with complaints comes with the territory for many a council employee.

But residents in one town have been told to stop writing to their local authority about its decision to reduce a speed limit – because their emails are ‘stressing out staff’.

Ferndown Town Council in Dorset received an influx of complaints after residents in the neighbouring parish of Longham felt their views had been ignored about plans to reduce the limit on a stretch of main road, which runs between the two communities.

In response, the council’s traffic working party chairman Cathy Lugg wrote to residents to explain the decision. But she also requested that they stop complaining to the town council about the issue.

She said: ‘The town council is working on a skeleton staff due to sickness and holiday at present and the large number of emails has caused extra stress for the staff.

‘If you wish to respond further, may I request that you contact me directly through the town council website.’

Longham resident Mandy Willis said: ‘It’s just ridiculous – our council tax rates are going up and yet as residents we are being told to stop hassling the council. Surely the job of the town council is to communicate with residents who are there to hold them to account .’