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Rats 'overrunning housing estate' | Rats 'overrunning housing estate' |
(30 minutes later) | |
Residents of a housing estate on the outskirts of Belfast have called for more to be done to help them rid their neighbourhood of rats. | Residents of a housing estate on the outskirts of Belfast have called for more to be done to help them rid their neighbourhood of rats. |
People living in Colinvale area of Poleglass said the problem had become worse since resurfacing work was carried out by the Housing Executive. | People living in Colinvale area of Poleglass said the problem had become worse since resurfacing work was carried out by the Housing Executive. |
Alesha Mullan, who lives in the area, said she is frightened to let her children play in the back garden. | Alesha Mullan, who lives in the area, said she is frightened to let her children play in the back garden. |
An executive spokesperson said it was working to eradicate the problem. | |
Ms Mullan said: "I had a swing for the children and the rats were running across it," she said. | |
She said she and her neighbours had contacted the Housing Executive about the problem. | |
However, she said it had not done enough to help. | However, she said it had not done enough to help. |
"We reported it to about six months ago and they came out within four days and put down a rat trap," she said. | "We reported it to about six months ago and they came out within four days and put down a rat trap," she said. |
"They put the box down, but never bothered to follow it up to see if the problem had gone." | "They put the box down, but never bothered to follow it up to see if the problem had gone." |
On Thursday, a spokesman for the executive said it had "been working closely with our contractor and Lisburn Council to carry out the appropriate work to eradicate this problem". | |
"Last week, the contractor laid traps in the area and we believe these are beginning to work," he said. | |
Sinn Fein Councillor Angela Nelson said she had received a number of complaints from residents in the area. | Sinn Fein Councillor Angela Nelson said she had received a number of complaints from residents in the area. |
"The mild winters we have been experiencing these past couple of years, plus the early spring warm weather is not helping," she said. | "The mild winters we have been experiencing these past couple of years, plus the early spring warm weather is not helping," she said. |
"The work that has been carried out recently has not helped, because the bins are only being emptied once every two weeks, that is also part of the problem." | "The work that has been carried out recently has not helped, because the bins are only being emptied once every two weeks, that is also part of the problem." |