📣 When Asking Questions is Called 'Excessive'???
Questions Are A Burden To Others, And And Answers A Prison For Oneself...
6 April 2025:
*Still from The Prisoner - © ITV - all rights reserved - Used here for commentary/illustrative purposes under fair dealing principles.
Last Wednesday (2 April 2025), two Isle of Axholme residents — one from Crowle and one from Epworth — visited the North Lincolnshire Council offices in Scunthorpe to speak directly with the Highways Department. Their aim? To raise concerns about the ongoing road closures, lack of advance notice, and the mysterious unmarked tankers operating in the area — all connected to the long-running Severn Trent works.
They weren’t allowed to speak to anyone face-to-face, and had to use an internal phone system to make contact. The Crowle resident was only able to speak briefly with the Highways Manager, due to ongoing health conditions, while the Epworth resident held a conversation that lasted almost 30 minutes. According to them, the Highways Manager appeared genuinely concerned, especially when made aware that many local newsletters are arriving only days before disruptive works begin — or not at all — despite the Council's own February 2025 ward newsletter confirming a partnership between Highways and the Drainage Board.
Then, just over one hour after that visit, a letter was emailed from the Council’s Customer Complaints Team. It warned that the individuals' contact with the Council had become “excessive” and could be restricted under the Persistent and Unreasonable Complaints policy — a stark shift from moments earlier when officials were actively engaging with the concerns being raised.
The letter also deflected responsibility by stating that Severn Trent Water is "not contracted by the Council", advising that all future complaints should be directed toward the company or Ofwat. This appears to contradict statements made in local newsletters — and raises serious questions:
If North Lincolnshire Council’s own communications mention these partnerships, why are residents being redirected?
Why is asking for transparency now being branded as “excessive”?
And why was the warning sent almost immediately after direct contact with the Highways team?
And why, despite repeated requests by the Crowle resident for reasonable adjustments, due to his health condition, and providing the council with medical evidence, is the resident still being ignored?
Does this constitute a potential case of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010?
This petition isn’t about nuisance complaints. It’s about accountability. It’s about the right of ordinary residents — from Crowle, Epworth, and across the Isle — to receive proper notice, transparency, and respect!
📢 Please continue to share this petition and help amplify the message:
Local voices should be heard, not silenced!