‘Lib Dems are playing Russian roulette with disease, but we’ll save pest control team’ – Labour makes election pledge …

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Wednesday 29 Jan 2014 3:30 AM

Written byCHRIS HAVERGAL

Labour have pledged to save Cambridge City Councils pest control team if they take control of the authority claiming the planned closure was playing Russian roulette with disease.

The Liberal Democrat administration agreed to shut the service earlier this month but the decision has to be rubber-stamped with the councils budget and the redundancy process is expected to be ongoing at Mays elections.

Cllr Peter Roberts, Labours environmental services spokesman, said reversing the closure would be the first thing Labour did if it took control.

Cllr Roberts said he was concerned about the spread of rats, mice, cockroaches and bedbugs if residents were unable to afford a private contractor.

Cllr Roberts said: Anyone who walks through town at night can see that discarded food everywhere brings a risk of a rat problem to the city centre or busy areas like Mill Road, and the council needs to ensure it can tackle this.

Unlike the Liberal Democrats, Labour will not play Russian roulette with disease in our city.

We value the significant experience and expertise our staff bring to this area so we want to be clear that, if the Liberal Democrats proceed with this planned cut, we would reverse the decision immediately upon taking control, and reinstate pest control as a free service for residents in Cambridge.

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'Lib Dems are playing Russian roulette with disease, but we'll save pest control team' - Labour makes election pledge ...