Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘Cat-sized rats’ torment estate
HORRIFIED residents have claimed “cat-sized” rats are terrorising their estate.
Locals in the Beechwood area of Dundee said issues with rodents have got worse over the last year.
Some even claimed they can hear the animals crawling around inside the walls of their homes.
Several people raised concerns with Beechwood Residents’ Group.
Chairperson Donna Elder, 38, said: “It’s a mix of Sanctuary Scotland, private and council tenants around this area.
“Everyone is aware of the problem. People have had them in their lofts, wall cavities and gardens.
“One woman had rats eating out of her fruit bowl.
“Over the last year, the problem has really escalated. Everyone is seeing them.
“I thought I’d seen a cat and someone said, ‘That wasn’t a cat, it was a rat’.”
The former St John’s High School pupil said residents are worried about diseases being spread.
They fear disused shops on Harefield Road and the food waste being stored at the nearby Marchbanks council depot may be attracting rats to the area.
Jim Elder, 85, who owns his home on Lundie Avenue, told the Tele: “There is a major concern up here about the problem and folk are uneasy about the rats.
“The rats think it’s Christmas up here.
“Folk are now spending hundreds of pounds trying to take their own action to tackle this.
“They (Dundee City Council) should move the food waste down to the Riverside so it’s away from houses.”
Councillor Wendy Scullin revealed she has been contacted about the matter.
She said: “Officers went out during the day to investigate. They also attended the Beechwood area again at night with thermal imaging equipment.
“They did not observe any rat activity at the time of the visit.
“If anyone sees anything in their gardens or is concerned then they should call Sanctuary Scotland or Dundee City Council to report this.”
The council insisted the Marchbanks depot is checked regularly for rodents.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “The waste management facility is licensed for bulking food waste, therefore must have appropriate arrangements for protection against pests such as rodents.
“The site is checked regularly and there has not been any rat activity there for some time.
“Properties in the Beechwood and Lundie Avenue area are owned by Sanctuary, who have arrangements with private pest control contractors, therefore the council would not be contacted by tenants if there was an issue.”
Housing association Sanctuary confirmed a specialist contractor was sent out in October after a report of rats in the area but there have been no further issues since.