A HIGH number of rat sightings have been reported in part of Weymouth, leading to investigations into bin storage areas and drains.
Littlemoor Safety Forum (LSF) revealed there has been numerous sightings of rats within the area - with a community meeting now set to take place involving multiple agencies to tackle the issue.
Tony A’Lee, LSF co-ordinator, said: "I've had around 20 responses from residents within Littlemoor about rat sightings in gardens.
"People have said the rise in rat sightings is due to the climate, while other concerns have been raised about people throwing scraps of food out of their window due to being homebound because of the pandemic.
"The biggest worry is rats can spread diseases such as Leptospirosis (Weil's), Salmonella, Listeria and other diseases, which can be caught from grass or equipment that rats have been on.
"This is detrimental to people's health.
"Unfortunately, we cannot pay for the eradication because it's too expensive.
"I've had reports from Littlemoor Road, Culliford Way, Jenner Way, Cornflower Close, Rockhampton Close, and Darwin Close."
The group will be holding a meeting at the Littlemoor Community Centre next month, which will be attended by the LSF, concerned residents, and Dorset Police.
A spokeswoman from Dorset Council said: "Unfortunately our officers are unable to attend the meeting.
"There's a multi-agency approach to this issue and any solution will involve residents too. The Aster Housing association is looking at their bin stores, while Wessex Water is looking at the activity in drains.
"We have offered to speak to individuals and passed on our contact details, but we have not been contacted yet.
"Littlemoor is surrounded by fields with a water course and this is the natural habitat for rats. Building works often disrupt rat populations and with a change in the weather they often look for places to spend the winter.
"People’s behaviour will often encourage rats. Things like not putting waste in bins, or closing bin lids tightly, not clearing dog faeces in public and private areas, storage of pet food and feeding of birds give rodents access to food and encourage infestations."
A spokeswoman from Aster Housing said: "Unfortunately, we’re unable to join the meeting in October, but we’re aware that one of our customers is affected by this issue as well as a number of other properties in the area.
"We’re currently working with the local Environmental Health team who are the lead agency in situations like these, and with our affected customer, to find a solution."
A spokesman from Wessex Water said: "We did attend two incidents earlier this year in the Littlemoor area relating to rats but both were found to be above-ground issues (so not related to our sewer network)."
A spokesman from Dorset Police said: "A representative from the local neighbourhood policing team is due to attend, as we do with a number of local community groups and other organisations in the town, to discuss policing issues.
"We're not there specifically in relation to the issue concerning rats as this is not a policing matter."
The community meeting is take place at the Community Hall at 7pm on October 6.
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