Falkirk Council: Public meeting hears calls for rat problem to be addressed

Members of Falkirk District Action Group held a public meeting in Bainsford Community Hall on Tuesday evening, February 28, where those attending told officials about their concerns over rodents.

Founder member Janine Reilly said she was disappointed that the hall was not busier but explained to the council officers that since setting up the group, hundreds of people have got in touch through their Facebook page.

Many more have signed the group’s petition urging the council to reinstate its pest control service and to make green bin collections more frequent in a bid to control it.

Janine and the group’s co-founder, Sharron McKean, who both live in Symington Drive, Bainsford say the problem of litter is directly linked to the number of rats in their area. They believe more frequent green bin collections are the answer.

Janine said: “We go out and do litter picks, St Mungo’s school does litter picks, the local snack van owner does litter picks – but there is still so much litter because there’s nowhere to put it. Yes, education is a major part of it but if there is not enough space, there’s not enough space.

“I don’t think people understand how much it affects residents. People are living on the edge – they’ve got rats in their property and they don’t know what to do. We’re not asking for it to be free for everyone but to have no service at all is unacceptable.”

One member of the audience was in tears as a friend spoke on her behalf to tell the council officers about the impact having rats in her walls, kitchen, ceiling and loft.

Her friend said: “She and her daughter have been at the doctor every day because they can’t sleep. They are sleeping in the living room because they are frightened to go into their bedrooms.

“They’re hearing these things running through the walls constantly. Unless you are actually physically affected by it you will never understand it. She’s paid for a private contractor who has identified the source of the infestation but still nothing is being done about it. What will it take for Falkirk Council to do something about it?”

Many of those attending were Falkirk Council tenants who said that the £246 charge for private pest control was simply unaffordable for many people.

Others said they were frustrated that Falkirk Council housing officers did not get back to them when they were trying to complain about problems such as litter and vermin.

Housing manager Steve Bentley apologised that there is currently a shortage of housing officers and agreed that it was frustrating that the council can’t do more about people who do not keep their homes and gardens clean and tidy.

Other members of the audience raised issues with a lack of cleanliness in streets across the district creating problems.

But the council officers attending the meeting told the audience that Falkirk Council simply does not have the budget to spend on pest control, which is not a statutory service.

Douglas Gardiner, head of environment and operations, said that over the years prior to it being cut, demand for the service had fallen by around 80 per cent and most of the work done was dealing with wasps.

“Falkirk Council is in a very difficult financial position and it has got to take tough decisions,” he said.

He also explained that the council had also found it difficult to recruit to the post when they did have pest control officers. But he did promise to work with residents to look at the waste management issues “on a case by case basis.”

Mr Gardiner said that the provision householders now have “is more than it has ever been” – with blue, brown bins and food waste bins – which meant the green bins should not be overflowing.

The council officers attending said they had great sympathy for people who are affected by rats and agreed there could be better information and signposting to help on the council’s website.

All 30 members of Falkirk Council were invited to the meeting, and four members of the Labour group attended along with Independent councillor Robert Spears. However, the organisers were disappointed that there were no Conservatives or SNP councillors present.

The Labour group leader, Councillor Anne Hannah, who had unsuccessfully asked a previous meeting of Falkirk Council to look at ways to tackle the problem of rats, promised to try again to get something done.

Councillor Hannah said; “I think we do need to do something about it and I think what people are saying that there is an endemic problem. The number of complaints I and other councillors have had is actually quite severe.

“Rats are getting into houses that are pristine and if they then get into a tenement block or a row of houses no one person can get rid of them. It does take concerted action and the council can help.

“I think we should be encouraging people to report it on our website so that environmental health officers can begin to find out where the hot spots are.”