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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Rats 'overrunning housing estate' | Rats 'overrunning housing estate' |
| (20 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. | 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." | Ms Mullan said: "I had a swing for the children and the rats were running across." |
| She said she and her neighbours had contacted the Housing Executive about the problem. | 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". | 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 added. | "Last week the contractor laid traps in the area and we believe these are beginning to work," he added. |
| "We have also contacted nearby homeowners to clear rubbish from their gardens which may be contributing to this problem. | "We have also contacted nearby homeowners to clear rubbish from their gardens which may be contributing to this problem. |
| "The Housing Executive will continue to try and resolve this as soon as possible." | "The Housing Executive will continue to try and resolve this as soon as possible." |
| 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." |
| Alderman Paul Porter said the council wanted to work with local residents to resolve the problem. | Alderman Paul Porter said the council wanted to work with local residents to resolve the problem. |
| "Local residents have a responsibility when it comes to dealing with their waste, the council has a responsibility as to how it deals with the waste," the DUP representative said. | |
| "I believe it is a partnership approach, it is not about blaming anyone, it is about trying to resolve the problem." | "I believe it is a partnership approach, it is not about blaming anyone, it is about trying to resolve the problem." |