Pest control contacted immediately to manage rat problem - Gżira mayor

Gżira residents have complained of rats in and around the Council of Europe garden and play area, better known as the Gżira gardens.

Most recently, a resident took to social media to post images of rats spotted in the garden. The garden is popular with young families, children and dog walkers.

Contacted by this newsroom, Gżira Mayor Conrad Borg Manche said he had contacted pest control immediately and and order to have 45 rat bait traps placed had been made.

“Although we have had such problems in the past, we have recently seen an increase in rats in the gardens, so we have taken drastic measures and contacted pest control to put more black boxes in the areas.”

Borg Manche said that the infestation of rats could be connected to the lack of rainfall experienced over the past few months, but hopes that with the increase in pest control measures the problem will be resolved. “We are also experiencing electrical problems, as the rats are chewing through the wires,” he added.

He said that the garden and play park is an extremely important project and that the council has plans to revamp the area. “I always had plans to work on the park. Unfortunately, the privatisation of the marina cropped up at the same time. Yes, we need to improve the infrastructure, we have to change the electrical system and we are going to revamp the whole area.” He said that the green space is extremely important for residents and visitors and that the local council will keep working on ensure that the rat problem is controlled, and to improve the quality of life for residents.