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Liverpool's rats should be shot in the streets, a city councillor says | Liverpool's rats should be shot in the streets, a city councillor says |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Rats plaguing the streets of Liverpool should be shot by trained marksmen, a councillor has suggested. | Rats plaguing the streets of Liverpool should be shot by trained marksmen, a councillor has suggested. |
Steve Radford, leader of the city's Liberal Party, made the suggestion during a wider debate about hunting. | |
He said that while he was opposed to recreational hunting, he would be "happy" to trial the shooting of rats as part of a "professional" pest control system. | He said that while he was opposed to recreational hunting, he would be "happy" to trial the shooting of rats as part of a "professional" pest control system. |
City Mayor Joe Anderson described the suggestion as "silly and absurd". | City Mayor Joe Anderson described the suggestion as "silly and absurd". |
Shooting vermin was "dismissed many years ago" as a system of pest control, Mr Anderson, of the Labour-controlled authority, added. | Shooting vermin was "dismissed many years ago" as a system of pest control, Mr Anderson, of the Labour-controlled authority, added. |
Mr Radford, who represents the city's Tuebrook and Stoneycroft ward, said some terraced streets had a rat problem. | Mr Radford, who represents the city's Tuebrook and Stoneycroft ward, said some terraced streets had a rat problem. |
He said the council had spent £1.5m repairing walls that he claimed had been damaged by the rodents. | He said the council had spent £1.5m repairing walls that he claimed had been damaged by the rodents. |
"We have an overwhelming outbreak of vermin in Liverpool," he said, adding: "Alleyway walls are collapsing where rats are burrowing underneath them. | "We have an overwhelming outbreak of vermin in Liverpool," he said, adding: "Alleyway walls are collapsing where rats are burrowing underneath them. |
"The poisoning programme isn't working. I think its inhumane that it causes the rats to slowly die. | "The poisoning programme isn't working. I think its inhumane that it causes the rats to slowly die. |
"But more importantly the poison isn't killing the rats, they are becoming immune to it." | "But more importantly the poison isn't killing the rats, they are becoming immune to it." |
He said his plan would involve a "good professional system" where shooting clubs would be invited to "come at set times to cull the rats". | He said his plan would involve a "good professional system" where shooting clubs would be invited to "come at set times to cull the rats". |
Mr Anderson said he had not seen any evidence of rats "eating bricks and through walls" and that Mr Radford's suggestion "doesn't deserve any credibility at all". | Mr Anderson said he had not seen any evidence of rats "eating bricks and through walls" and that Mr Radford's suggestion "doesn't deserve any credibility at all". |
"It's silly and absurd to think we would allow people to shoot vermin in the street," he added. | "It's silly and absurd to think we would allow people to shoot vermin in the street," he added. |
He said limiting food waste on the streets and running poising programmes were "the most effective and cost effective way" of dealing with the problem. | He said limiting food waste on the streets and running poising programmes were "the most effective and cost effective way" of dealing with the problem. |
Ian Furlong, director of Independent Pest Control and Hygiene Services Ltd in Liverpool, agreed the best way to prevent rat infestations was to keep food waste in closed bins. | Ian Furlong, director of Independent Pest Control and Hygiene Services Ltd in Liverpool, agreed the best way to prevent rat infestations was to keep food waste in closed bins. |
He said shooting rats on city streets "is never going to happen" and stressed rats are not immune to poisoning. | He said shooting rats on city streets "is never going to happen" and stressed rats are not immune to poisoning. |
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