Neighbours ‘counting cost’ of rat infestation

Neighbours could be forking out hundreds of pounds each to tackle a single infestation of rats a councillor has warned.

- KAIYA MARJORIBANKS

Councillor Gerry McLaughlan has said several householders had told him of concerns about rats - and that the council’s charge of £200 to tackle them a barrier to reporting the issue.

However, Cllr McLaughlan also said he suspected that people living in the same neighbourhood were being bothered by the same single rat source - yet being expected to pay individually.

‘At a recent full meeting of the council he asked environment, transport and net zero convener, Labour councillor Jen Preston: “Given that rats are known as very social animals and live in large nested communities, will the convener agree to ask officers to review the policy that results in several households, which are suffering from an infestation from the same colony of rats, being faced with multiple charges to treat the same rats?”

‘The response from officers, however, stated: “There is no specific policy associated with rat infestations, this is an operational issue that requires specialist advice.