Council action against rats with some of the best addresses in Ludlow (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Council action against rats with some of the best addresses in Ludlow

8:00am Thursday 26th November 2009

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URGENT action is being taken to tackle the problem of rats in the centre of Ludlow.

The rats are living in the sewers and escaping to set up ‘home’ under the listed cobbles in some of the most expensive parts of the town.

Broad Street has been identified as a particular hot-spot because of the run of the sewers that allow the rodents access into the cellars of the buildings. A special baiting station designed to look like a normal manhole cover has been installed.

Council officials have been in town this week to carry out initial baiting in a bid to keep the rats at bay and now Severn Trent Water has promised to release funds immediately after Christmas to allow further treatment.

Highlighted for baiting because of the high number of rats are Broad Street, Lower Broad Street, Mill Street and St John’s Road.

Rats are also causing concern in Friars Walk, near to the junior school, and in Upper and Lower Fee, where it is claimed the feeding of birds by residents is adding to the problem.

Several roads on the Sandpits Estate have also been identified.

In other parts of the town, including High Street, King Street and Church Street, action is to be taken because of concerns about the high number of food premises in the area.

This issue has been taken up by Councillor Rosanna Taylor-Smith and her husband Martin, who both live in Mill Street and represent different parts of the town on Shropshire Council.

“It is something that we have been trying to sort out over the past few days to get something done,” said Roseanna.

Health and environmental chiefs from Shropshire Council want residents to report rat sightings so that they can make sure the baiting operation is as successful as possible.

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