Swingeing cuts to budgets and dwindling staff numbers may be striking fear into the hearts of council workers at the moment, but what other ghostly terrors are haunting the sector?
LocalGov trawls the web to present our top five tales of things that go bump in the night.
1. As well as scaring staff and residents, it turns out that ghosts and ghouls can also have a frightening impact on a council’s finances. In fact, a choir of spooky nuns and whispering children meant Portsmouth City Council was allegedly forced to give away a £375,000 manor house after potential buyers were put off by spooky rumours surrounding the property.
According to The Telegraph, the council donated the Grade II listed building to the Wymering Manor Trust after it failed to sell at auction.
2. Here's one from our own archives; staff at Louth Town Hall were so scared of 'frequent and unexplained' encounters, they called in paranormal experts to investigate. Andy Stancer, the site manager, claims he has heard leather shoes dragging across the floor when no one else was around and that his bucket and mop have moved to the opposite side of the room, apparently of their own accord.
3. Reports of haunted council homes have made regular appearances in the news over the years. While the cynical among us may say it’s merely an inventive excuse to be re-housed, some tenants claim to have captured spooky going-ons on camera. Lisa Manning reported doors opening and slamming, household objects moving on their own and even a flying kettle. She shared footage with the Daily Mail of a cupboard flying open and a chair moving by itself. Luckily a visit from celebrity ghostbuster Derek Acorah seemed to send the pesky poltergeist on its way.
Easington Council went one step further following complaints a poltergeist was terrorising a tenant. According to The BBC, the council paid £60 to a psychic after the family was traumatised by the strange going-ons in the house.
4. Staff at Boston Council have also been the victims of a ghostly figure set on stirring up trouble. Four staff from the environmental operations office – located in the oldest part of the municipal building – reported being menaced by a ‘shadowy’ figure. Paranormal investigators found the ghost was of a former lawyer called Jeremy.
5. Ghost-hunter Don Philips got an earful from a foul-mouthed ghost while investigated paranormal activity at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s headquarters. Don, filmed by channel 4, told viewers the spirit had whispered a ‘very strong’ swear word in his ear and threatened to kill him. He had been brought in by the council after staff reported hearing voices and seeing apparitions.
