Saturday, May 17, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome

VERMIN RISK `SET TO SOAR`

By Jon Moreno - Friday, May 9, 2008
THE WITHDRAWAL of subsidies for low-income families using services to kill vermin could lead to a huge health risk on the Island, fears a leading pest controller.
John Owen, who co-owns Wroxall-based firm Eagle Eye Pest Control, believes the number of vermin call-outs will double by this time next year.
His worrying prediction follows the IW Council’s sudden announcement last week it had stopped subsidising pest control services for people on means-tested benefits. The subsidy, introduced in 1999 as a replacement for the council’s former pest control service, was discontinued following a council review of annual budgets.
IW Council spokesman Stuart Love, the director of environment and neighbourhoods, said the council has no legal obligation to subsidise pest control services.
“While I appreciate some people may be unhappy with the decision, the subsidy provision was not a statutory service. It is the responsibility of home and land owners to keep their premises free of pests,” he said.
“The council will continue to meet its statutory duty to enforce legislation where owners or occupiers of infested land fail to take action.”
Mr Owen, whose pest control firm was an IW Council-approved contractor, said: “Over the past few months we have had a 40 per cent rise in rat calls. The rat population on the Island is on the rise because of our warmer winters but also because more people have compost bins.
“The withdrawal of the subsidy means poorer families will have to pay a £42 call-out charge. On means-tested benefits, they paid £5. That’s a huge difference.
“We will hold the charge at £42 for another 12 months, but the worry is people won’t be able to afford it and won’t call anyone out. Therefore, more and more rats and mice will be left to breed.
“Ryde has a big rat problem, so it seems ridiculous for the council to do this. The potential is obviously there for a huge public health risk.”
The IW Council said it will honour any pest control treatments currently being undertaken.