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PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS
The Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 imposes a duty on
occupiers of premises to notify the Council of rodent infestation and
the Council are required to ensure that the borough is, as far as
practicable, kept free from rats and mice. The Council deal with rat
and mice infestation in dwelling houses without cost to the occupiers,
but expenditure incurred in treating infestations on commercial and
industrial premises is recovered from the owners. The Council are
required to submit reports on:
(i) the extent of infestation
(ii) special circumstances to which any undue presence
of rats and mice might be attributed: and
(iii) the nature and extent of co-operative working
with contiguous local authorities.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food requested a report
for the twelve months ended 31st December, 1970 as follows:
Treatment of premises (rats and mice)
Number of properties in the borough 75,288
Total number of properties inspected
following notification 2,960
Number infested by rats 29
Number infested by mice 1,863
Total number of properties inspected for rats
and/or mice for reasons
other than notification 5
Number infested by rats 3
Number infested by mice 5
Generally
The rodent staff, in addition, deal with infestations from pests
other than rats and mice, and the following is a summary of action
taken during the year in respect of all forms of infestation:-
Premises inspected following complaints 2,966
Premises where rats were found 29
Premises where mice were found 1,863
Premises where other vermin were found 146
Number of visits made 20,563
Number of successful treatments 1,821
Cases in which advice only was given 242
Borough Council properties dealt with
(excluding dwelling houses) 76