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25
RODENT CONTROL
The Council's Rodent Control Service continued
its campaign against rats and mice throughout the Borough.
822 Complaints from occupiers of dwelling
houses were dealt with - this is an increase on the number
during the previous year, and is undoubtedly due to the
general public becoming more aware of the Council's
services.
A large percentage of these complaints were of
mice infestations, and there is no indication that rat
infestation has increased.
The occupiers of business premises have
continued to co-operate freely, and in no case has the
Council had recorse to legal proceedings for the recovery
of charges.
Charges were made and collected in 175 cases,
the total sum involved amounting to £50.l5s.l0d. No
charge is, of course, made for treatment of private
dwellings, but as in most cases the rat infestation was
traceable to either defective or disused drains (the cost
of these works was borne by the owners of the premises).
2 Sewer treatments were carried out during
the year, and from the resultant records it would appear
that the rat population of the sewers has decreased, due
in no small measure to the regular sewer treatments,
combined with the sealing off of disused sewer
connections, and repair of defective drains, thus
reducing the potential breeding places of the rats.
The bombed sites in the borough were
periodically inspected and test baits laid.