Pest controllers are back, at a price in Test Valley (From This is Hampshire)
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Pest controllers are back, at a price in Test Valley
7:20am Friday 10th July 2009 in
RATCATCHERS will be back on the streets in Test Valley – a year after the free service was axed.
Council bosses were so concerned that residents were trying to deal with infestations themselves they have been forced to reintroduce the service – but at a price.
All but vulnerable residents will be charged £39 per infestation treatment under a new charging system which is being brought in to pay for the service.
Officials axed the previous free treatment system because of a huge increase in demand – resulting in the council’s three ratcatchers being unable to cope with their workload and residents were urged to contact private pest control companies to deal with rats.
The authority’s cabinet spokeswoman for housing, health and communities, councillor Sandra Hawke said that decision had now been revered following concerns over a rise in infestations that were not being dealt with appropriately.
She said: “We took the decision to limit our service following an unprecedented increase in demand for the council’s free rodent treatments.
“We were concerned that residents were trying to deal with infestations themselves or that they are doing nothing about them. This would mean that rodents would become resistant to treatments or that infestations would increase."
However, the new charges have come in for criticism from Test Valley councillor Alan Dowden who said the service should be free to all.
Councillor Dowden said: “Rats continue to breed and with climate change and warmer winters predicted rodent numbers are going to grow even more. I have expressed concerns about this many times. You only have to look back at history to see what’s happened in the past with diseases spread by rats. “ A fourth pest control officer has been appointed under the new structure. The authority claims the new charge is broadly in line with other local councils.
Comments(11)
Vix1
says...
9:31am Fri 10 Jul 09
Saints Mike
says...
9:56am Fri 10 Jul 09
southy
says...
10:07am Fri 10 Jul 09
Saints Mike wrote:there's even a lot more in chilworth
Come over to Weston there are plenty of rats living here, some even pay rent.
goard
says...
10:26am Fri 10 Jul 09
goard
southy
says...
11:20am Fri 10 Jul 09
goard wrote:no but i seen a hedgehog suffer though eating slugs that have eaten slug pellets.
My brother in law even gets his gun out to kill them. It's getting serious and one day other animals will be killed with rat poison and others shot. Has anyone ever seen the agony of a dog (at the vets) I shall never forget it. It had to be 'put down'.
goard
best time to shot rats is in the winter on the very cold nights. they will stay hidden over night and come out after sun rise.
Lone Ranger
says...
3:27pm Fri 10 Jul 09
southy wrote:
goard wrote: My brother in law even gets his gun out to kill them. It's getting serious and one day other animals will be killed with rat poison and others shot. Has anyone ever seen the agony of a dog (at the vets) I shall never forget it. It had to be 'put down'. goardno but i seen a hedgehog suffer though eating slugs that have eaten slug pellets. best time to shot rats is in the winter on the very cold nights. they will stay hidden over night and come out after sun rise.
I have to chuckle at you two.
I can just imagine the pair of you sat in the corner of a pub seeing who can come up with the best story.
LOL
KA
says...
4:31pm Fri 10 Jul 09
goard
says...
4:53pm Fri 10 Jul 09
goard
King Mush
says...
5:14pm Fri 10 Jul 09
southy wrote:There's even more at Westminster......
Saints Mike wrote: Come over to Weston there are plenty of rats living here, some even pay rent.there's even a lot more in chilworth
southy
says...
8:29pm Fri 10 Jul 09
King Mush wrote:oh so so true,
southy wrote:There's even more at Westminster......
Saints Mike wrote: Come over to Weston there are plenty of rats living here, some even pay rent.there's even a lot more in chilworth
lol
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Ozmosis says...
7:39am Fri 10 Jul 09