Mum afraid to go into yard of her Prescot home because of rat infestation

Sam Davies and her young daughter moved into the house in Kemble Street in August and since then has had rats in her loft and back yard.

Ms Davies has already called an exterminator out once, but the problem has continued and she now has to wait two weeks for another visit from pest control.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she was convinced that a fly-tip on vacant ground next to her yard was to blame for the rodent problem.

Fly-tipped waste in an alleyway off Kemble Street, Prescot. Mum Sam Davies fears the rubbish is attracting rats. 

She said: “I definitely think the rats are coming from that area of yard and a neighbour has said she has seen them coming out of the bushes on the other side of the road.

“I’ve had rats running around in my loft and the street, they have been seen in my yard and the neighbours yards and houses. 

“I’ve had someone out to kill the rats in my loft but they are back again so my dad has had to go up and put more poison down whilst I wait for the pest control again who can’t get to me until October 19.” 

Ms Davies added that she had reported the fly-tip to Knowsley Council shortly after moving in, but has not had any luck in getting the issue resolved.

She said: “I reported the fly tipping on the Knowsley Council website but heard nothing for about four weeks then reported it again recently and sent a long email to environmental health. 

“Someone from environmental health called me and asked if I could email over some photos which I did but I heard nothing back.

“I got so fed up of going around in circles so I just asked my dad if he could try and get somewhere with it all, he is more assertive than me, but nobody got back to him.”

A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said several nearby properties had received enforcement notices requiring them to clear up the rubbish.

The spokesperson said: “The council’s pest control team received a complaint on September 12, 2020 and subsequently visited the resident’s address on 15 September to place bait within the property. 

“A revisit was scheduled on 1 October, however the council were unable to gain access to the property to continue treatment. An investigating officer will contact the resident again to try and gain access.

“On 25 September the council served seven enforcement notices on nearby properties in relation to managing waste and for provision of bins, and the council has previously carried out action days in relation to management of waste regarding this alleyway and others within Prescot which are unadopted and do not belong to the council. 

“The residents in that locality will also receive letters outlining their household duty of care.  

“In the meantime, if the resident wishes to re-book the appointment with the pest control service, they will attend at a convenient time to continue their treatment.”