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20
Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949.
Rodent Control measures throughout the Borough have been carried out under
the supervision of the Rodent Officer and a staff of six operatives.
Work of the section may be divided into three main categories:-
(a) Sewer Maintenance Treatment.
(b) Business premises - routine inspection for rodent control.
(c) Dwelling houses - complaints from occupiers.
Sewer Maintenance.
Treatments have been carried out at six-monthly intervals with the
co-operation of the Borough Engineer & Surveyor,s Department under the direction
of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to synchronise with treatments in
the neighbouring Authorities' Areas.
Business Premises.
The Council's Contributory Scheme of Rodent Control in business premises has
again continued to function well. The income derived from this Scheme is now
£3,200 per annum and the charges made to individual contributors are calculated
in units of £5 to £200 dependent on the size of the premises and the storage of
rat and mice attractive materials. It must be appreciated that the Borough has
extensive river and canal frontages and an immense volume of goods of all
description is carried by ship and barge. The Rodent Control staff carry out
considerable routine work of inspection and treatment of premises where goods are
landed. It is extremely difficult entirely to eliminate the menace of rats, but