Rat population surge expected after council cuts

Rat population surge expected after Stroud District Council cuts

2:40pm Tuesday 21st January 2014 in News By Daniel Chipperfield

A MAN from Dursley is worried about what the long-term health implications are for the area now that Stroud District Council (SDC) is no longer offering a free pest control service.

Retired aerospace engineer Royston Smith said rats are a regular visitor to his garden on The Quarry because they root around in his compost bins.

What annoys me is the council encourages people to get their own composting bins and that entices the rats to come looking for food, he said.

People wont pay 45. They will put poison down instead which is a danger to pets, birds and children.

"If you dont use the proper controls then the problem will be massive. They will be all over the place.

Getting rid of rats in homes has until recently been a free service for the district's residents but they now face paying 45 to have rats removed from their homes.

The service will still be free for those on benefits.

The move is part of a series of money-saving measures by SDC to meet a gap in its finances and expects to earn 32,000 from the extra charges but will keep fees for other pests, including mice, wasps, fleas and other insects, the same.

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Rat population surge expected after council cuts