Back in November I blogged about concern in Redlands about rats. It seems to me that the Council's pest control resources are stretched and this not helped by the high level of litter on many of our streets outside of the town centre.
Today the issue has appeared in a typically sensationalist article by the Evening Post about fears of a booming rat population in East Reading.
I was only talking about this issue earlier in the week with my colleague Cllr Ricky Duveen, Chair of the Environment Scrutiny Panel. I suggested pest control and infestation might be a good issue for further investigation by the Panel to reassure public fears about the issue.
I recall that at an Environment Scrutiny Panel in 2007 the then lead councillor for environment ex-councillor Steve Waite dismissed questions about rats and bins from Conservative councillor Isobel Ballsdon. A year earlier he had rubbished her claims about fortnightly bins.
What a pleasant man Steve Waite was and how we miss him on the Council.
A few months ago my ward colleague Glenn Goodall requested ward level data about the rat population in Reading, but none was forthcoming from Council officers if I recall.
Let's hope there can be a more constructive approach taken by the new improved Environment Scrutiny Panel next time this issue is debate.
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