NEED help completing a Mary Berry recipe?

In the throes of organising a mouse race?

Or worried what could happen after you ate an out-of-date pork pie?

Never mind the potholes in the road, renewing library book loans or parking issues, these are some of the time wasting questions Somerset County Council call handlers have had to deal with.

County Hall, which received 250,000 calls last year, has made it easier and cheaper for people to get in touch by scrapping ten separate 0845 phone numbers with a single one for all enquiries – 0300-1232224.

But while its operators are keen to answer queries about highways issues or faulty street lights, requests for birth and marriage certificates, blue badge applications, library books and parking matters, some of the more bizarre requests have left them scratching their heads.

Council leader Cllr John Osman said: ““Our call handlers are well trained and as helpful as possible, but they are there to help with enquiries about the support and services that we have to offer.

“So if you’re looking to report a pothole or to find out about school admissions, then 0300-1232224 is the only number you need.

“If you have a more general question, then perhaps try phoning a friend instead.”

Peter Fleming, deputy chairman of the Local Government Association, said most of the calls to the 370 councils it represents are about council tax, parking and bins.

He added: “These light-hearted examples of calls highlight the variety of issues that councils deal with every day – from the slightly amusing to the outright bizarre.

“Even if they do feel as though they are outside their remit, council call centre staff will always try their hardest to assist where they can.

“But, whilst councils offer more than 800 services, some requests are simply beyond them.”

 

SOME OF THE WEIRD REQUESTS MADE TO COUNTY HALL PHONE HANDLERS.

*What size tin is required for the Mary Berry strawberry tart featured on the BBC’s Great British Bake Off?

*What are the rules and regulations for hosting a mouse race?

*How high is Mt Kilimanjaro?

*I’ve eaten an out of date pork pie – what should I do?

*Can you translate words from Latin into English?

*Do you have a list of film times for the cinema?