Work is taking place to deal with an ‘out of control’ rat problem in one area of Merseyside.
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 has felt “out of control.”
Along Page Moss Avenue, councillors knocked on doors in one of the borough’s rodent hotspots as people handed over bins chewed up by rodents, while engineers from United Utilities got to work bating sewers in the neighbourhood.
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The problem of rats in Page Moss has almost become synonymous with the area in recent years. People have spoken out on a regular basis over infestations in their homes and rats wandering the streets in “broad daylight.”
Knowsley Council have attracted criticism over the problem, with some saying they haven’t done enough to tackle the scourge.
Today, on Page Moss Avenue, councillors and officers alike said the problem needed “everybody on board” with a collective approach in order to get the situation under control.
Streetscene manager Denise Best said the council were out in force to tackle the issue as officers “understand the strength of feelings” in the area about the rodent problem.
She said: “That’s why we’re out here today with this day of action. The idea is to work with residents to raise issues around disposal of waste, harbourage and so on.
“Of course rats are not just an issue for Knowsley, it’s a global issue but there are things we can do to reduce them around homes. People don’t always know about issues over harbourage.
“We’ve talked to residents about garden maintenance and look to identify flytipping, work to get rid of holes in properties.”
Ms Best added: “The pandemic has seen an increase in the quantity of things like fast food, and anywhere there is food, water and somewhere for them to sleep and rest, is a place where rats can accumulate.”
Livv Housing communications manager Sharleen McAteer said it was important to find out from residents what are some of the issues contributing to the problem in their areas.
She said: “We’ve been door knocking and want to understand the concerns, the issues people are having with the properties, it goes above and beyond an emotive issue, this affects communities.
“I’m from Page Moss and rats have always been here since I was little, but there have been environmental factors in terms of partnerships with United Utilities and new builds too and we believe collaboration is the key to tackling this.
“It’s a lovely area and the community need that support, education and information so that we can all work together to tackle it.”
The theme of partnership working was echoed by local ward councillor Ken McGlashan
He said: “It’s not something Knowsley Council have been able to tackle on its own. We had to work to encourage United Utilities to start baiting the sewers again as that had stopped, and that was a battle.
“We’ve linked in with the registered social landlord, tenants have an agreement around keeping properties clean and tidy. If we all work together we can help combat it.
“If we can get cooperation from everyone, that’s the approach that will do it.”
Although pest control calls have gone down in the past year, with 200 less calls to Knowsley’s environmental health than in 2018/19, officers acknowledge Page Moss is one of the borough’s few “hotspots”.
Part of the problem, explains Denise, is that sewer baiting stopped “many years ago” and was only brought brought back last year after a deal between Knowsley Council and United Utilities, which has seen the council contribute £15,000 towards a joint sewer baiting programme. A total of 57 manholes were visited in Page Moss in 2020, 65 visits in Huyton and Page Moss in 2021 with more to come.
Cabinet member for communities and neighbourhoods Cllr Shelley Powell said the council is “determined to work in partnership to combat infestations” with more days of action planned across the borough.
Along a row of shops at the end of Page Moss Avenue, the verdict was split by residents passing by.
One, who asked not to be named said: “We’ve heard it all before. The rats here are brazen, nobody seems able or willing to stop them. People have had enough.”
Another, Jan, who asked to be referred to by her first name said: “Well, I just hope this means people are listening and finally something will change. The rats have been a problem around here for far too long.”
