Rise in rats is terrifying menace

9:09am Thursday 1st February 2007

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THEY cause damage, spread disease and strike fear into the heart of every household.

Since we revealed fears of a rising rat population in Hampshire, residents throughout the county have flooded the offices of the Daily Echo with hundreds of telephone calls, letters, e-mails and online comments with their stories of how the rodent vermin is a terrifying menace to the public.

Sightings at railway stations, public parks, and outside supermarkets have been described by readers, as well as repeated concerns over fortnightly rubbish collections which can leave household waste waiting an extra week to be taken away.

As previously reported, Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne raised the issue of the rising rat population following concerns from constituents and launched an investigation into a possible rise in numbers and took the debate to Parliament.

"Anecdotal evidence suggests people are noticing rats when they didn't before, although it's hard to be scientific," he said.

Mr Huhne also said that sewer baiting by water utilities may also be responsible, as it is not clear whether privatised companies are carrying out pest control measures.

In Southampton, one family in the Sholing area of the city were able to catch a rat on their home video camera as it came through a hole in the bathroom wall.

Robert Stone of Sullivan Road decided to record the rodent after becoming concerned about the health of his four children who include a one-year-old son and six-month-old baby.

"The problem is the design of the house," said Mr Stone, 34, who is a self-employed builder.

"They were only built for temporary use and they have not been maintained properly, in a liveable condition."

Mr Stone said that at least six houses in Sullivan Road suffered problems with rats.

"The cladding on the outside of the buildings leaves gaps between the cladding and concrete walls which the rats crawl into.

"We have had environmental health out five times in two weeks," he said.

"They lay down poison to kill them but they have warned us that they can move to another house and then come back."

Southampton City Council issue housing tenants with an advice pack on living in their home which guides residents on how to avoid and deal with rats and vermin.

Part of the tenancy agreement that council house residents must agree to includes the condition that residents "must not encourage wild (feral) pigeons, rats, mice, or grey squirrels to your home, our land or the locality.

"This is because they can pass on diseases to people or, in numbers, can be a nuisance to or pollute the areas they live in."

The home information pack also warns residents not to feed any of these animals and to make sure homes and gardens are clear of food waste or piles of rubbish.

Residents that do not take steps to prevent pests and vermin such as rats from damaging their house can risk losing their home and could be taken to court by the council.

Robert's wife Claire Stone, said: "It has really become a serious problem and there is only so much you can do like keeping your rubbish covered and your house clean.

Recorded sightings of rats in Southampton has dropped since 2003 and the council's current figures suggest that so far there has been 529 sightings for 2006/2007 compared with 843 for the previous year.

However, the figures could be lower because charges for rat control treatments may put people off from contacting local authority pest control services or they could be treating the problem themselves or through private pest control companies and not reporting the sightings.

Liz Marsh, head of environmental health at Southampton City Council said: "Southampton City Council takes the control of rat populations very seriously and in the pursuit of ensuring that rat populations are kept to a minimum it adopts a strategic long-term approach.

"We would ask residents who do believe they have rats in their home to contact the council's environmental health team.

"The environmental health team can offer free information and advice, as well as rat control treatment. There is a small charge associated with the treatment of rats.

"However those residents in receipt of full council tax or housing benefits can receive this service free of charge. Rats sighted outside the home should also be reported to the environmental health service."