Rat-catchment area

Oldham’s pest problem among worst in Britain
OLDHAM has one of the country’s worst pest problems, new figures claim

There are more call-outs to handle bed bugs, cockroaches and rats than in most of the country’s local authorities.

New figures show Oldham Council dealt with 18.58 pest problems per 1,000 residents over a year — the 44th highest figure out of all 314 English local authorities.

The data comes from the first British Pest Control Association National Survey, which analysed demand for pest control over a 12-month period.

The council was called out 972 times over the year over problems with rats. There were 55 issues with bed bugs and 82 cockroach call-outs.

Simon Forrester, chief executive at the BPCA, said: “There may be a number of local factors why a council appears towards the top of one of the lists, but on a national scale the BPCA is concerned that pest control budgets are being hit.

“That may make it harder for councils in England to respond as effectively as they would like, which could have implications for both quality of life and public health.”


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