Rat chews through wheelie bin’s lid

A DUNOLLIE resident has been left shocked after a rat chewed through his bin, writes David McPhee.

TJ Telfer spotted the rodent when he went to put rubbish in his bin one night last week. He closed the lid, trapping the rat inside, and placed an object on top to confine it.

When he went out the next day to check, he noticed a hole in the side of his green general waste wheelie bin.

‘It chewed through the bin,’ he said. ‘I can’t believe that’s what it did. The collection was three days late, so all the bins have been out in the street for ages.

‘I think it’s disgusting. Some bins are overflowing. If I was a rat, I would have been in my element. If a rat can do that to a bin, what can it do in your house?’

Mr Telfer contacted Argyll and Bute Council following the incident.

He said on Tuesday: ‘I was told I would be contacted by someone from the council. That was last Thursday but I’ve heard nothing. The bins were uplifted the same day I contacted the council.

‘I was getting feedback from the neighbours and they find it disgusting as well that the bins are left that long because it attracts rats.’

A council spokesperson said: ‘Our waste collectors were in the area as scheduled but were unable to access all of the bins due to parked vehicles and our small awkward access vehicle was operating in Colonsay.

‘The bins have now been emptied. We ask people to park safely and considerately to avoid this happening.

‘Anyone who has an inquiry about pest control and the services offered by the council can get in touch with our pest control technicians.’