Dorset Councils 

I have never been a fan of East Dorset council their adding garden waste collection charges when council tax was frozen is an example why.

However we discovered one day that the property next door was going to be extended starting the following day. We were given no plans.

We live in a forested area in a road where development is supposed to be limited as it is deemed of special character interest. I fear the extension would spoil that.

I contacted the council who at first seemed understanding and asked me to complete an online form which I did.

The council then demanded I explain the full extent of the development which I could not do. They then said there were no plans as no planning was required originally they thought there probably should be

We are left with a situation where the council refused to even look at what was going on and we had to wait to see until the development was complete to see the full extent of the problem

There was an incident in this road several years ago which involved the same family having to apply retrospectively for permission. The council has lost this record.

I make no allegations of conclusion and neither do I say the development is unlawful however the council should ascertain this.

The matter has left me wishing to leave a village where I have previously been very happy

Very poor. Almost impossible to speak to somebody, just a recorded message bullying you into going to the web site to solve an issue you know for sure cannot be solved online. If you’re very lucky you’ll get on the end of a queue but most of the time they are too busy to allow you to queue. Out of exasperation I emailed them with the issue - two weeks today and no response other than an acknowledgment of receipt of my email. Assuming nobody will ever respond to my email I called again today - 37 min wait and as I was first in the queue for around 15 mins I can only assume there was only one operator - all our operators are currently busy!

Fantastic service. We moved house last summer to a new build and requested a garden waste collection. We were told that the next subscription was October 2021and as the garden had just been laid that was fine. Normal rubbish collection didn't start until October/November so we weren't that worried that we hadn't received a garden waste bin.

Now the grass is growing and we need the bin. I used the chat facility this morning to ask what was going on and where we were on the waiting list. Within 2 hours our new bin was delivered.

Absolutely hopeless…
Due to a bank error my council tax was paid twice in January. I immediately let them know and asked for a refund. They said it would be paid the following Wednesday. Four weeks later and three more promises to make the payment I am still waiting.
So now I’m told I will receive the refund next Wednesday. Over a MONTH since I informed them of the error. Watch this space…

I tried booking my garden waste collection but was unable to get my iPad to work with JavaScript so had to phone Christchurch council. When I was connected I was number 4 in the queue and it took 40 minutes to speak to someone who sorted it and was very polite and helpful. However when I asked for the details of someone I could complain to I was given a name but told they do not have a phone number or email and the only way I could complain was with an online form. This is also unacceptable. They work for us and we should be able talk to someone when we are not happy with the service they are providing. They should be accountable to local service users, but instead they have a “firewall” to prevent any direct criticism. This happens to me every year!

We holiday in devon and dorset wvery year and always enjoyed going fishing in Lyme Regis, sadly this year we had the shock of our lives, a car park that used to cost £2 per day is now on am hourly rate, we went last night to catch the evening tide, website states cob car park is free 6pm till 8am but apon arrival we found they have changes the time for free parking to 9pm til 8am, after seeing some of these reviews i have to ask where's all this extra money going?

A good job!
Last week two staff members of Dorset Council were clearing an overgrown bridleway called Friday Lane. As I passed they were working very hard but stopped to let me through. They were friendly and polite.They immediately returned to their work. The lane is now completely cleared and often used.

I contacted them to report that a bin had been damaged when it had been emptied not expecting a lot to happen but within a couple of days a new bin had been left, and they even took the house number off the old bin and stuck it on the new one. Very good service.

I fail to understand why changing council tax details online should be such a laborious process. Residents are encouraged to use the service so it should be more efficient and user friendly.

Incompetent, irresponsible, unresponsive. From highway issues to planning: incompetence and delays. And these people are paid by the taxpayers to provide a service!

as i am a person that likes my town to be nice and clean if i see a problem that is a council a thing i will phone them about it they dont like this.
As they are trying to save money so they dont want to be botherd with people that have high standerds and wont take no lying down the executive director John Sellgren sent me a letter saying that they are inplementing a single point of contact and not to contact any other way then making lible about me accusing me of saying to the person on the phone that i would kill them all and they had it on recording.
i sent a SAR to get the recording and yes they cannot provide it because in there words they dont have it on recording.
They are saying that if i contact them in any other way or go to any of there meeting or buildings they will call the police.
i have done more SAR but they are pissing aboutthis is there last chance as i have been told by the ICO if they donot forfill my SAR they will investergate.
Mr john sellgren was sacked from Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council in Staffordshire for the way an election was administered. by him (rigging) and less that 6 mths latter he is now with dorset council how can you trust a council like that

Trying to get through to someone about a council tax demand - I have 7 day deadline to pay and it is refusing my card. Every time I am on the option to be put through to an advisor they hang up the phone on me. Other phone numbers have a message saying that they are too busy to speak to anyone.
How am I supposed to resolve this without being able to talk to an advisor?