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52
Rats and Mice.
The Council's Rodent Operatives undertook during the year the
treatment for the destruction of rats at 1,528 premises and for mice at a
further 97.
No major infestations were found and action by a servicing company
effectively prevented any build up of rats at the Council's Newton Farm
site. This site was mentioned in the Report for 1963.
While the complaints that were received did not reveal one part of
the Borough as being more seriously affected than another the work of
investigation and treatment indicated quite clearly that the careless
throwing out of food scraps for birds and the retention of waste matter
in and around sheds provided the ideal conditions for the harbouring
of rats. A supply of food plus cover and surroundings in which to breed
are all that is required and the public can help the Local Authority in
their efforts to deal with the rat problem by seeing that these two
essentials are not provided.
Wasps.
The year as regards complaints about these pests was below average,
the number received being 335 as compared with 453 during 1963. The
number of nests destroyed by the Department was 290, the remaining 45
were either dealt with privately or were found to require no treatment.
CLEAN AIR
SMOKE CONTROL
During the year two Smoke Control Orders became operative and
these affected 3,072 dwelling in an area of 404 acres. This brings the
total number of operative orders to eight and within the total area of
1,447 acres are 12,578 premises of which 12,071 are dwelling houses.
A statistical summary of the position at the end of the year is as
follows:—

* N.B. The Council owned dwellings in the No. 6 Order are affected by the Harrow (Suspension of Smoke
Control) Order 1963.