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'Environmental improvements' blamed for rat problem
03/08/2010
Residents have been forced to put up with a severe rat infestation plaguing their streets in Lochee, Scotland, following the demolition of housing, which has been blamed for flushing the pests out.
The rats were first spotted earlier this year when the High Street area suffered considerable disturbance during the £2 million improvements programme. This is thought to have caused the rats to leave their usual haunts and venture further afield.
A few of the rats were so big that they were tracked by police on CCTV cameras in the Bright Street area. Many local residents on the way to work saw the rodents 'casually walking' along the footpaths.
Following numerous sightings, Lochee councillor Tom Ferguson asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure that pest control policies in the area were up to standard.
Mr Ferguson said the problem now appeared to have been brought under control but it would have to be monitored carefully to ensure it did not flare up again.
"I think all the groundworks that took place during the improvements programme may have been responsible for bringing the rats out. However, I've insisted that the various authorities responsible for pest control remain vigilant.
“There are a few areas where the rats may have originated from and we'll need to pay particularly close attention to them,” he added.
