Large rats "own the streets" as disgusted residents are "living in hell".
Vermin has been an issue residents in Page Moss are facing for "a while" as large rats are said to be " running wild ". The ECHO has reported numerous complaints from residents, from rats running around gardens to chewing though people's cars - but the issue appears to be continuing.
One woman, who did not wish to be named, told the ECHO that living in Page Moss lately is like "living in Victorian times". She said it is a "living hell" as rats "rule the streets" and residents cannot leave their homes after a certain time.
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She said: "It's horrendous, I've lived here for three years and I keep reporting it. My garden is destroyed, there's over 70 nests in my garden.
"My house is infested, you can hear them under the floor boards and in my garden I'm falling down rat holes and causing injury but nothing is being done about it. Livv Housing and the council were out back in March but nothing has been done since.
"It's horrendous. I can't do much because I'm disabled but at one point a rat chewed through my ceiling and I begged Livv Housing for help. Eventually it got through and my dog killed it. Before my dog goes out in the garden I have to clean thousands of rat droppings in the morning.
"The dog has an infection in her mouth I believe is from the rats. The front garden is also horrendous. The rats are dying in my bin and it's filled with maggots. It's a living hell, like being back in the Victorian times in days of squalor, the black death."
It was previously reported that Knowsley councillors, council officers, representatives from local housing association Livv Housing and United Utilities were all out in force on the streets of Page Moss in a bid to tackle a situation which some residents say feels "out of control."
The council confirmed to the ECHO it will continue to work with partners, residents, businesses and landlords to tackle any rat infestations in the area, including sewer baiting, pest control and action days as well as offering advice.
But the horrified woman, of Page Moss Ave has spotted three dead rats in her back garden in the space of a few days as she calls for more action. She added: "They come out in force, you can't leave your home gone 5pm.
"I can't let my dog outside I have to put puppy pads down so they can go the toilet. One night I was coming back from the hospital and the taxi driver had to help me get in my house because the garden was overrun by rats.
"They aren't scared of anyone, they come out like they own the place. They own this close after teatime. All our bins are destroyed, I can't keep paying to get them replaced.
"We can pay for vermin control but we shouldn't have to pay all the time. You name it, I've tried it, sticky pads and bait boxes. I had a trap in my garden, I know it's not humane but I was at my wits end.
"A rat chewed it's own foot off to get away. Nothing stops them. I double bag everything, tried peppermint, everything I have tried. It's horrendous. We are singing it from the top of our voices, we need help."
A Livv Housing spokesperson said: "We are in regular contact with our customer and have carried out external work to the property to seal any access routes into the home. We will continue to work collaboratively with partners to find solutions to address any wider environmental issues in the area that may be causing the problem."
Former Green candidate and Page Moss resident John Carine said he is faced with many complaints daily. He told the ECHO: "Residents are sick and tired of this now after complaining for years with little to no action taken. The council at one point claimed there wasn't a real issue."
A Knowsley Council spokesperson added they will continue to work with partners, residents, businesses, and landlords to tackle any rat infestations in Page Moss.
They said: "Specifically, we have worked with United Utilities to bait 25 manholes in and around the Page Moss area. We have carried out follow-up visits in March, April, May, June and July this year to assess any take-up of bait, and several manholes have been re-baited where the original had either been taken or perished. There are further visits planned for the future.
"Our Environmental Health Team and our Streetscene Team also continue to visit the Page Moss area. Since the “Day of Action” in March, we have visited the area on 24 separate occasions to respond to reports regarding rats and we continue to work alongside partners, including Livv Housing, to offer advice to residents about the prevention of pests. This includes residents ensuring that their gardens are well-maintained, that rubbish is securely bagged and binned, and that bird feeders are removed from gardens.
"We also have an annual schedule of partnership action days taking place across the Borough to address this issue, and other issues including clearing excess rubbish and overgrown areas, with a view to engaging with residents and businesses to provide advice on the steps which they can take to prevent infestations.
"If residents have a problem with rats, they can contact our Pest Control team at www.knowsley.gov.uk to request advice and treatment. If they believe that this is evidence of a wider problem, they can contact our Environmental Health Team on 0151 443 4712 or by email at environmentalhealth@knowsley.gov.uk."
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