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83
DISINFEST ATION
Number of houses visited 230
Number of rooms sprayed 689
Number of houses re-visited 31
There were many complaints during the year of insect infestation. The usual
offenders were wood boring beetles, ants, cockroaches, carpet beetles and wasps.
The total number of visits made by the staff of the Disinfecting Station for all
purposes was 1,763.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PFSTS ACT, 1949
Rat and mice destruction in dwelling-houses and business premises is carried
out under the direction of the Rodent Officer.
In the case of dwelling houses treatment is undertaken by the Local Authority
free of charge, but in the case of business premises a charge is made.
During the year 2021 complaints were received and investigated, 3,333 baitings
being carried out. 1,346 complaints were in respect of brown rats, 667 in respe. t
of mice and 8 complaints were not justified.
Sewer Treatment
Baiting of the sewers is carried out by the Borough Engineer's Department to
reduce the number of rats living in them.
It is difficult to kill off all the rats in the sewers as access to the sewers
can only be obtained at manholes which are provided at infrequent intervals. The
work of baiting the sewers is a large undertaking as there are 3,500 manholes in
the Borough and it is necessary to visit each one, lift the cover and place the
bait near invent level.
This work is even more difficult to-day in busy roads where traffic jams can
easily occur whilst baiting is in progress.
During the year the Borough Engineer's Department laid 6,000 baits in the
sewers in the Borough.