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22
Business premises
The rat officer visited 323 business premises which were reported
to be infested. At 120 of these premises he found no evidence of rats.
At 113 premises the occupiers refused to agree to pay for the cost of
treatment by the Council and stated that they would take action themselves.
These premises were revisited and on inspection it was found
that there was no evidence of rats in 110 cases and at three premises,
where there was evidence of rat infestation, the occupiers agreed to
pay the cost of the treatment to be carried out by the Council. At
90 other premises the occupiers agreed to pay the cost of treatment by
the Council. The necessary work was carried out and the occupier of
the premises was charged with the cost.
Lewisham Borough Council properties
Rat infestation was found at Molesworth Street, Wearside Road
and Home Park Depots and in the Forster Memorial Park, and the
necessary disinfestation work was carried out.
Rivers
It was found that there was extensive rat infestation along the
banks of the rivers Pool, Quaggy and Ravensbourne, and gassing of
holes and baiting on the banks was carried out. Altogether 776 rat runs
were found and gassed, 2,062 bait points were laid, and 1,648 rats
destroyed by poison bait in addition to probably a large number destroyed
by gassing.
Railways
The operatives reported rat infestation on Southern Railway
property and 18 infestations were notified to the Company, which took
the necessary action and reported to us when the work was completed.
Summary
The number of rats destroyed under the scheme is an estimate, based
on the Ministry of Food's method of calculation. Altogether 18,215
rats were estimated to have been destroyed in this way, plus an unknown
number through gassing.