Council responds to reports of rat infestation in Hattersley

Tameside Council says it is working hard to eradicate a problem with reported rat infestations around parts of Hattersley.

It comes after residents reported seeing more of the rodents around the estate and appearing in people’s gardens.

Hyde and Stalybridge MP Jonathan Reynolds stepped in to offer advice to constituents after he was contacted about the issue and he has liaised with the council about how the problem could best be tackled.

A number of residents have reported seeing rats ‘the size of cats’ running around certain areas of the estate.

This week a spokesperson for the council said: “We have been working hard to eradicate the problem on the estate, including baiting over a hundred sewer chambers and working with individual homes. 

“This work will continue until there are no further problems.

“We have carried out inspections across the whole of the estate to identify problem areas and clear fly-tipped waste with work continuing. 

“We have held meetings with the local housing association to look at the management of the area and have agreed regular joint patrols, while the association will also be organising further clean-ups.” 

However, the council is appealing with residents to work with them - especially by reporting flytipping.

The spokesperson continued: “We need the local community to work with us on tackling this by ensuring their waste is disposed of responsibly, to help eradicate the problem. 

“We have teams out every day clearing and investigating flytipping and taking enforcement action. 

“Flytipping is illegal and can be hazardous, as well as it being extremely expensive for the council, on limited resources, to clear waste dumped by others. To report illegal waste disposal or flytipping in Tameside visit www.tameside.gov.uk/reportit or call 0161 342 8355.”