Rat surge fears as pest control cut

7 March 2013 Last updated at 10:36 ET By Gemma Ryall BBC News

Cuts in council pest control services could lead to an explosion in rat numbers, a health body has warned.

More than a quarter of Wales' councils now charge residents to get rid of rats, up from just one six years ago.

Others charge for mice, fleas, bedbugs and cockroach services, and one council has stopped pest control entirely.

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) said it was concerned people not wanting to pay would ignore infestations.

Figures obtained by BBC Wales show that six of Wales' 22 councils now charge residents up to 40 to eradicate rats from inside their homes: Anglesey, Cardiff, Gwynedd, Newport, Powys and Wrexham.

Nine local authorities charge people to remove mice, while more councils charge for insect pests, such as fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches and wasps.

Meanwhile, Carmarthenshire stopped offering a pest control treatment service entirely in 2011 to save 82,000 and offers advice instead.

It is feared pest control will come in for more cuts in the coming year as cash-strapped councils try to make savings, with Monmouthshire council putting forward plans to scrap its free service in its April budget.

Julie Barratt, director of CIEH Wales, said some people might not be able to afford to pay the council or a private company to deal with vermin.

Read this article:
Rat surge fears as pest control cut