Who’s responsible for tackling rat problems?
Royal Borough: Forum requests update from council on pest issue
The Royal Borough is unsure where responsibility lies for tackling rat problems on land it is responsible for.
A Windsor Forum meeting this week heard that the local authority had a duty to keep council owned land free of pests but there was a lack of ‘clarity’ over whose job it actually was.
The forum had requested an update from the council over what was being done to deal with a growing problem with rodents in Windsor.
At the meeting on Wednesday, the Royal Borough’s environmental health service manager, Obi Oranu said: “We totally accept that – at the moment – the handling of complaints about pests on council-owned land has been insufficient and we accept that they’re not being handled correctly because it’s not clear who does [it].”
Mr Oranu said that the environmental health team had powers to enforce private landowners to deal with pest problems but could not deal with problems on councilowned land.
Council-owned land includes open spaces, cemeteries, car parks and highways.
Eton & Castle councillor Mark Wilson (Lib Dem) said: “I appreciate your honesty in saying that there isn’t currently clarity within RBWM as to who should be responsible for pest control on RBWM land.
“I’m sure all the councillors here are concerned by that – I certainly am.”
Cllr Wilson asked Mr Oranu what was being done to resolve the issue and if there were any steps that – if appropriate - residents could take to mitigate pest problems.
“We’ve had meetings this week within my service trying to clarify who is responsible,” said Mr Oruna.
“We’ve put together a list of where environmental health are responsible and we’re making contact with various internal teams to determine what responsibility they would have.”
He added residents could keep grass cut short and ensure food sources, such as bin waste, were not left easily accessible to pests.
However, Windsor was facing a ‘big issue’ with rats according Cllr Allison Carpenter (tBfI).
The Clewer and Dedworth West councillor highlighted increased reports of rat infestations by Bridgewater Terrace residents – a road near to the council-owned Alexandra Gardens park and the River Thames.
She added: “I think – to be honest – every household in Windsor is experiencing some problem with rats even if they don’t live near the river, so I think there is a big issue here.
“It would be good to have a plan – or to see a plan – on what we’re doing.”
Heidi Berry, a Windsor resident, said that her garden backed on to Spital Cemetary – the resting place of soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross – which was also having rat problems.
She said rats were becoming so ‘cheeky’ they were even coming up to the back doors of nearby homes and asked whether residents reporting the issue would help.
“Absolutely, that would be really helpful,” Mr Oranu responded.
“We do get people reporting it and that’s really helpful.
“Like I said, where we can deal with it from an environmental health point of view we do.
“But I think I’ve been quite candid.
“There does seem to be a slight issue as to council-owned land and who deals with it.”