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Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949:
Rodent Control:
The work of Rodent Control within the Borough continues to give
satisfactory results.
During the year under review RATTUS NORVEGICUS (Common Rat)
and mice have been the main cause for complaint, no infestation of RATTUS
RATTUS (Ship Rat) has been reported or discovered.
The majority of infestations have been on a small scale except in
one particular instance where rats had burrowed beneath a dust chute and in
this case the rodent control staff carried out an intensive programme which
cleared the area of rats.
Rats in the sewers of Finsbury still require continuous attention, and
the usual quarterly treatments are being carried out to this effect. The
Rodent Control Staff comprise a Rodent Officer, Assistant Rodent Officer,
Foreman and six operatives who are fully employed treating and maintaining
a service at the many business and domestic houses in the Borough, who
request assistance in this field.
As in previous years both residents and occupiers of business
premises within the Borough of Finsbury have been most co-operative in the
fight against rodents, and it is gratifying to note that it has not been
necessary to issue a Statutory notice or take legal action of any kind under
the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949.
Number of complaints received Business premises 63
Domestic ,, 79
Additional Infestations Found Business ,, 1,116
Domestic ,, 181
Number of Premises treated Business ,, 1,179
Domestic ,, 260
Number of Visits made Business ,, 13,289
Domestic ,, 6,115
Charge made to Business premises £4,504 14s. 0d.
Pet Animals:
There is little trade in the Borough in pet animals. Licences under
the Pet Animals Act 1951, have been re-issued in respect of 5 premises
during the past year. Two were in respect of shops; two in respect of stalls
and one in respect of premises used for the breeding and sale of tropical
fish, largely for export. All the premises were inspected during the year.
Heating Appliances:
Observations have constantly been made on all shops, warehouses
and stalls handling the sale of new and secondhand gas, electric or oil fires,
to ensure that such appliances were adequately guarded in accordance with
the standards laid down. Two official visits were paid during the year by
the Public Health Inspectors.
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