Pest control service to deal with more health hazards

Shropshire Council’s pest control team is now able to offer more services to deal with hazards to health.

The service responds to between five and six thousand requests a year to remove rats, mice, bedbugs, fleas, crawling insects, wasps, flies and other flying insects, from homes and businesses.

People can now also get in contact if they have problems with cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, moles, mink, pigeons, squirrels, rabbits, carpet beetles or bees in chimneys and cavities.

Bookings can be made on the first call to the council’s Customer Service Centre or face-to-face at customer service points.

Charges are set at competitive rates, costing no more than £60, with a 50 per cent reduction for those on Guaranteed Pension Credit or Income Support.  Flexible payment options are also available.  In most cases the charge is per treatment, not per visit, and successfully dealing with a problem can involve several visits.

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for environmental health, said:

“Pest control is a well-regarded service which carries out extremely important work.

“By offering treatments for a wider range of pests, the service is able to do even more to deal with public health issues, such as preventing the spread of disease.

“While councils are increasingly deciding to cut this service, ours is improving and just charging at rates which cover the cost of the service, thereby ensuring they are competitive.

“Pest control officers are also offering more alternatives to both prevent and control pests, for example, using humane traps rather than the more traditional method of poisons.”

Officers will aim to respond to requests in two working days. The service can also offer annual contracts to businesses.

For further information go to www.shropshire.gov.uk/environmentalhealth.nsf or call 0345 678 9000.  People can also call this number to make an appointment with a pest control officer.