Haltwhistle residents' anger over rat infestation
Residents are claiming that part of their small town is being over run by rats and that the council isn't doing enough to get rid of them.
The infestation in Haltwhistle is said to be affecting two streets in the town and, according to a town councillor, residents are scared to let their children play out because of the danger from disease.
Margaret Forrest, 70, a Haltwhistle Town Councillor, said: "The residents on Dale Street and East View have got rats coming from a nearby derelict building going into their yards and children cannot go out to play.
"Northumberland County Council have said unless residents pay ã45 each to find out where they are coming from they won't help because they are not in the houses.
"The residents have been putting down poison and one woman put three rings of poison down and they were all gone the next day.
"One man was having breakfast when a rat ran under his table, another resident had her wheelie bin chewed by them and on Monday a woman was walking along the street when a huge one ran right in front of her in broad daylight. Another lady opened her door to find a big rat just sat there staring at her.
"People are fed up of this and are concerned about the spread of disease, especially those with young children."
According to Coun Forrest and her fellow campaigner Pam Watson the rats are coming from the area occupied by a derelict building called Greystonedale which overlooks the two affected streets. They said it was also possible they were coming from a nearby railway embankment.
Margaret said it wasn't the first time that residents in that area of Haltwhistle had suffered from rat problems. She said eight years ago a similar problem occurred in nearby streets but that this time the problem was worse.
According to the county council - which took over responsibility last year from the now defunct Tynedale Council - they have checked the Greystonedale building and cannot find any evidence of rodents coming from it.
Philip Soderquest, Public Safety and Enforcement Manager for Northumberland County Council said: "Responding to requests from residents regarding an infestation of rats coming from a derelict property, our Pest Control Service conducted a site visit earlier this month.
"This showed that the rats were not coming from this property. We are now working with Network Rail as we believe the source may be a nearby railway embankment."
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I think these rats have a cheek, they think they own the place.
Rats do not come from derelict builings. rats are only after one thing... FOOD.. Feeding birds in your garden is the biggest problem, even food that hangs from trees bits fall to the ground. Once a rat finds a regular food source it will stay in the area until it is removed. A cold derelict building with no food or a garden with food !!!! DO NOT FEED BIRDS there is enough food in the wild for them.....