Litter reporting website stops working for Sheffield

FixMyStreet is used by people across the country to flag issues with everything from fly-tipping and graffiti to faulty street lights, with the information passed onto local authorities to sort the problem.

But since Saturday, users attempting to log problems in Sheffield have been told that Sheffield Council no longer accepts reports made via FixMyStreet.

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People can still log such problems directly with the council, but many users say they find FixMyStreet much simpler to use.

mySociety, the non-profit organisation running FixMyStreet, said that reports sent to Sheffield Council had started bouncing back on Saturday, June 27.

Myf Nixon, mySociety’s marketing and communications manager, said: “We have not had communication with Sheffield over this matter but we are always more than happy to chat to councils to discover if there are ways in which we can make it easier for them to accept our reports.

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“For example, we can route reports to any number of different email addresses within an authority, and attach each of these to one or more categories of fault to more accurately reflect the routing that the council uses internally.”

People can still log problems in Sheffield via FixMyStreet but those reports will no longer reach the council.

One user, calling on Sheffield Council to resume accepting reports via FixMyStreet, said: “It is much quicker and easier for me to report problems I see as a litter picker than your awful website or phone system. I haven't time to mess with it when I'm out on site.”

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Councillor Tim Huggan, Sheffield Liberal Democrats’ shadow cabinet member for the environment, called on the council to ‘stop making life difficult for local residents’.

A spokeswoman for Sheffield Council said: “To make it as easy as possible for residents to report issues, all categories are listed in one place on the Council's website. This is the official reporting system for Sheffield.

“The public should use this method as it is the most direct and efficient way of reporting issues. Visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/report to report now.

The glitch has now been sorted, meaning reports made via FixMyStreet will reach Sheffield Council.